Cho Hee-dae Returns After Father’s Funeral: “I’ll Hear the Developments Before Making an Official Announcement”

[Financial News] Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae returned to work four days after his father’s funeral. Regarding Cheong Wa Dae’s request that he submit a renewed recommendation for a Supreme Court justice candidate, he said the matter could not be discussed while he was in mourning and that he would issue an official position after reviewing the developments.
Chief Justice Cho met with reporters as he arrived at the Supreme Court of Korea in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd. He bowed and said, "I deeply thank everyone who sent their condolences for the death of my father." He then bowed again, saying, "My family intended to hold a modest funeral, but it suddenly became a major affair, and I feel sorry to the public."
Asked whether he would submit a renewed recommendation for a Supreme Court justice candidate, Cho replied, "I have not discussed it at all because of work-related circumstances, so I will go in, discuss it once again, and then speak." Asked when he would make an official announcement, he said, "I have received no such report and have not discussed the matter at all, so I will hear the developments and speak officially." He gave a similar response when asked whether he planned to reconstitute the Committee of Recommendation of Supreme Court Justice Candidates from the beginning, then bowed and entered the building. He did not answer questions about the so-called 'sublease of a sublease' allegations raised by the opposition bloc concerning Supreme Court justice candidate Kim Sung-soo.
Chief Justice Cho took leave and did not come to work after his father died on the 30th of last month. The funeral of his late father, Cho Bu-hwan, was held at the funeral hall of Pohang SeMyeong Christianity Hospital in Nam-gu, Pohang. On the 31st of last month, Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, paid his respects.
On the 28th of last month, Cheong Wa Dae requested a renewed recommendation after saying it would not send the appointment-consent motion to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea regarding Cho’s written recommendation of Son Bong-gi for appointment as a Supreme Court justice. On his way home that day, Chief Justice Cho said, "I apologize for causing concern among the public," adding, "We are reviewing the details. I will let you know once things are sorted out next week." As discussions could not take place while he was in mourning, the announcement is now increasingly likely to be delayed.
The National Court Administration has been reviewing follow-up measures since the day Cheong Wa Dae rejected the recommendation. The key questions are whether to newly form the Committee of Recommendation of Supreme Court Justice Candidates to select a successor to former Supreme Court justice Rho Tae-ak, or, as requested by Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling bloc, to submit a renewed recommendation for one of the three previously recommended candidates: Seoul High Court judges Kim Min-ki and Park Soon-young, or Presiding Judge Yoon Sung-sik of the Seoul High Court.
There is also little time. Supreme Court justice Lee Heung-gu is scheduled to retire on the 7th. The appointment-consent motion for Seoul High Court Presiding Judge Kim Sung-soo, who was recommended as Lee’s successor, was submitted to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on the 31st of last month. The National Assembly is expected to form a special committee for the confirmation hearing soon.
[email protected] Kim Dong-gyu Reporter