Cheong Wa Dae: "Letting the chief justice appoint Supreme Court justices at will is not judicial independence" — takes direct aim at Cho Hee-dae

[Financial News] Cheong Wa Dae strongly urged Cho Hee-dae, chief justice of the Supreme Court, to promptly re-recommend a candidate for Supreme Court justice. It said, "Letting the chief justice appoint whoever he wants is not judicial independence."
Seong Gi-hong, senior secretary for public relations and communication at Cheong Wa Dae, appeared on the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) radio program "Cho Seung-won's News High Kick" on the 29th and said, "Judicial independence is guaranteed by complying with the Constitution and protecting citizens' right to a trial." Seong criticized the chief justice, saying, "After former Supreme Court justice Rho Tae-ak retired, no procedures were carried out for six months, and then the candidate recommendation process was initiated unilaterally without consultation." He added, "As citizens are suffering from the vacancy in the judiciary, the constitutional institutions must pool their wisdom and promptly begin the re-recommendation process."
Seong dismissed the opposition's allegation that the investigation into a mine blast in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) had been delayed, calling it "a serious mischaracterization." He explained, "There was absolutely no intention to deliberately delay or cover up the investigation. Since the site of the accident was a new search route, we proceeded cautiously under the judgment of the United Nations Command (UNC) and military authorities to prevent further casualties among the soldiers." He also described attempts to link President Lee Jae Myung's speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly with the investigation into the accident as a political attack and conspiracy theory, emphasizing that clear response measures would be taken based on the findings of the fact-finding investigation.
Regarding the public dispute with the Ukrainian government over the disclosure of the "transfer of North Korean prisoners of war," Seong reaffirmed that a confidential agreement had existed. He said, "The Ukrainian government's public affairs adviser denied the agreement and branded our president a liar, which is an act that undermines trust." He added that the government was awaiting an official explanation and apology from Ukraine. He also stated, "North Korean prisoners of war are South Korean citizens under the Constitution, and the government's consistent position is that all of them will be accepted if they wish to come to South Korea."
Seong also expressed his views on internal appointments and pending issues at Cheong Wa Dae. Regarding whether President Lee Jae Myung had accepted the resignation of Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, he said, "The president is considering how to handle it and will announce his position in the near future." On the appointment of a successor to the vacant policy chief position, he explained that the government was searching for a suitable candidate who could advance its focus on strengthening social policy, including addressing K-shaped polarization. Regarding reports that legal action might be taken against writer Rhyu Si-min for criticizing President Lee Jae Myung, he stated, "Nothing has been decided or specifically considered."

[email protected] Park Ji-hyun Reporter