Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Says, "Cannot Comply with Request for Renomination"... Flatly Rejects Cheong Wa Dae Demand (First Report)

[Financial News] Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said he could not comply with Cheong Wa Dae's request to recommend again a candidate for Supreme Court justice to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Rho Tae-ak, arguing that the request lacked a constitutional basis.
The Supreme Court of Korea said in a media notice at noon on the 22nd that Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae had stated, "I hereby state that I cannot comply with the request for renomination."
The Supreme Court of Korea said, "The only document related to this request for renomination is the 'Request for Renomination of a Supreme Court Justice Candidate' dated the 28th of last month. It does not state specific reasons for requesting renomination or the constitutional basis for doing so, and we cannot find any other specific constitutional grounds or reasons that would justify the request for renomination." It then cited Article 82 of the Constitution, which states, "Acts of the President concerning state affairs shall be performed in writing, and such documents shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet member concerned."
On the 18th of last month, Chief Justice Cho recommended Judge Son Bong-gi of the Daegu District Court for appointment as a Supreme Court justice from among the four candidates recommended by the Committee of Recommendation of Supreme Court Justice Candidates to succeed former Justice Rho Tae-ak. Ten days later, Cheong Wa Dae demanded a new recommendation, calling the appointment a unilateral written recommendation made without substantive consultation.  


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