Chief justice calls presidential intervention in Supreme Court nominations unconstitutional

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae declared on Tuesday that the president lacks the power to interfere in the selection of candidates for the highest court, fueling a conflict with President Lee Jae Myung over the appointment of a new justice. During a parliamentary audit, Cho passionately defended his constitutional authority, rebuking Cheong Wa Dae's demand for him to nominate an alternate candidate.

Cho emphasized that just as he cannot meddle in the National Assembly's approval process or the president's appointment process, the National Assembly and the president cannot intervene in his recommendation. He argued that such interference would contravene the constitutional separation of powers among government branches and jeopardize judicial independence. Cho's comments came after a protracted disagreement between Lee and himself regarding the justice appointment, which had persisted for over a month.

According to Article 104 of the Constitution, a ten-member recommendation committee is responsible for selecting at least three candidates for Supreme Court justices.