The Cheong Wa Dae criticized on the 29th that the ruling and opposition parties’ agreement to recommend a neutral candidate for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was an “infringement on the President’s right to appoint personnel.” Meanwhile, Cho Hi-dae, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, broke his silence and expressed his thoughts on the situation, saying that “the value of the rule of law is very important.” On the 28th, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition United Future Party agreed to recommend a neutral candidate for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, which has been vacant since former Chief Justice Cho Hi-dae retired on September 9th. In response, Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Kang Ho-seong said in a statement that “the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties to recommend a neutral candidate for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is practically an attempt to limit the President’s authority to appoint personnel.” Spokesperson Kang added, “It is an infringement on the President’s right to appoint personnel, which is a right granted by the Constitution, and it is also a political tactic that disregards the people’s right to expect a fair trial.” However, some say that the situation is not that simple. Former Chief Justice Cho Hi-dae, who had been maintaining his silence, expressed his thoughts on the situation through a Facebook post on the 29th. In his post, former Chief Justice Cho said, “The value of the rule of law, which I have always emphasized, is very important. The judiciary’s independence and neutrality are also very important.” He continued, “In order to fulfill this important responsibility, we must ensure that the judiciary is composed of competent and fair personnel.” Former Chief Justice Cho added, “The current situation is very difficult, but I hope that the Supreme Court will be able to fulfill its important responsibility by being composed of competent judges.” Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties are still discussing the process of recommending a neutral candidate for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Presidential Office has repeatedly voiced opposition to the "backdoor appointment" of Supreme Court Chief Justice Yi Hui-deok's judicial nominee, maintaining their stance that the president's authority is being undermined. However, Chief Justice Yi has remained silent on the matter, expressing his belief that the era of unchecked power exerted by the executive branch is passing and emphasizing the importance of "legal supremacy" in today's changing legal landscape.
During a recent press conference, Presidential Office chief of staff Hong Ik-pyo acknowledged that the nominee's appointment process deviates significantly from established practices, and expressed sympathy for the perception that the president's authority has been compromised. This stance comes after Chief Justice Yi appointed ex-Government Counsel Taek-ak No and Hyung-gyu It as nominees, bypassing standard consultations with the Presidential Office.
The Presidential Office is currently reviewing the possibility of rejecting the nomination of a Supreme Court judge without prior consultation, and is considering other measures to revise the relevant legal framework to prevent such maneuvers in the future.
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