청와대 “대통령 임명권 침해”…침묵 깬 조희대 “법의 지배 가치 소중”

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.