Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Says He Will Review Progress Before Addressing Renomination of Supreme Court Candidate

South Korea’s Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae returned to work after his father’s funeral and declined to give an immediate answer on whether he would renominate a Supreme Court justice candidate.

Asked about the presidential office’s request, Cho said he had not taken part in any discussions and would first hear what had happened before responding. He repeated that an official position would come after he reviewed the progress of the talks.

Cho thanked those who had offered condolences over his father’s death. He apologized that a funeral intended to be a small family event had become more public than expected.

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I will hear about the progress of the discussions and then speak.

The dispute concerns the replacement for former Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak. Without reaching agreement with the presidential office, Cho submitted the name of Son Bong-ki, a presiding judge at Daegu District Court, to President Lee Jae-myung in writing.

The presidential office asked Cho on the 28th of the previous month to submit a new recommendation. Cho had been absent from work until the previous day after his father died on the 30th of the previous month.

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I deeply thank everyone who sent condolences over my father's death.