Kim Min-seok raises Cho Hee-dae's resignation over justice renomination dispute

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said on his first commute to work after the Chuseok holiday that he would explain the Supreme Court justice renomination issue at a National Assembly audit.

Asked by reporters whether he meant that future statements would also be conveyed through a spokesperson, Cho said the request had only called for renomination, so his reply had likewise given only a conclusion. He said he had heard that this had left reporters with many questions.

He added that he would address the matter at the forthcoming parliamentary audit. He also said he would convey any necessary information to reporters through a spokesperson.

On the 22nd, Cho said he could not accept the presidential office's request to renominate a successor to former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak.

He explained that, because the president's acts in matters of state are made in writing, he had based his judgment on the written renomination request sent by the presidential office on the 28th of the previous month. He said the document contained neither specific reasons for the request nor constitutional grounds.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom on the 7th posted on Facebook part of a conversation involving Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo over tea before the previous day's parliamentary audit. According to Kim's account, Cho was asked whether he had another intention regarding the nomination of a Supreme Court justice, and smiled while replying to the effect of asking what he would be trying to do.

At the parliamentary audit on the 6th, Cho used a prepared document to state that the chief justice fulfills all constitutional duties by submitting a nomination. After his remarks ruling out submitting a nomination again, calls for his voluntary resignation emerged within the ruling party.

Citing provisions including Article 104(2) of the Constitution, Cho argued that nomination authority has no separate restrictions or provisions delegating its regulation to legislation. His position is that nomination is an authority vested exclusively in the chief justice, making outside interference itself unconstitutional.

Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok criticized Cho's parliamentary audit remarks on the party's YouTube channel, Democratic Party TV. Kim raised resignation, saying in effect that Cho would be better off stepping down if he could not resolve the issue of submitting the nominee again.