Chief justice calls presidential intervention in Supreme Court nominations unconstitutional

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae declared on Tuesday that the president lacks the power to interfere when offering recommendations for Supreme Court justices, intensifying a conflict with President Lee Jae Myung regarding the appointment of a new justice. During a parliamentary examination of the Supreme Court, Cho vigorously defended his constitutional prerogatives and rebuked Cheong Wa Dae's demand for him to propose an alternative candidate.

Cho emphasized that, akin to the chief justice's inability to meddle in the National Assembly's approval process or the president's appointment process, the National Assembly and the president cannot interfere in the chief justice's recommendation. He maintained that such interference would contravene the constitutional separation of powers among governmental bodies and erode judicial independence.

Cho's statements followed a protracted dispute between Lee and himself over the justice selection, which has persisted for over a month. Pursuant to Article 104 of the Constitution, a committee comprising 10 members is responsible for nominating a minimum of three candidates for Supreme Court justice.