Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de on the 22nd formally rejected the presidential office's request to renominate a candidate for the Supreme Court, effectively standing by his original pick. The move came 25 days after the presidential office on Aug. 28 returned his nomination of Son Bong-gi as a Supreme Court justice and asked him to submit a new candidate.
"The only document related to this matter is a 'request for renomination of a Supreme Court justice candidate,' and it contains neither the specific reasons for the request nor its constitutional basis," Jo told reporters. "Nor can I find any other specific constitutional grounds or reasons that would justify the request." He indicated he could not comply because the presidential office had not presented concrete reasons or a constitutional basis for its demand.
The presidential office expressed strong regret over Jo's position. "The chief justice's statement asserts that his power to nominate takes precedence over the president's power to appoint," an official at the presidential office said, calling it "a view that violates the Constitution of the Republic of Korea." The official added that the stance "neutralizes the appointment power of a president elected by the people," and urged the chief justice to "face the fact that a prolonged vacancy on the Supreme Court ultimately harms the public."
With the dispute between the presidential office and the Supreme Court over the nomination escalating into a direct confrontation, the vacancy on the top court is expected to drag on.
