Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Silent on Written Nomination of Justices; Appointment Delays Likely

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae arrived at the Supreme Court on Thursday morning, remaining silent on questions regarding the nomination of new justices. Cho had previously nominated Son Bong-ki, a judge at the Daegu District Court, and Kim Sung-soo, a judge at the Seoul High Court, as successors to former Justice Roh Tae-ak and Justice Lee Heung-gu, respectively.

When questioned by reporters about the reasons for submitting the nominations in writing to the presidential office and whether coordination with the Blue House had been difficult due to the five-month vacancy, Cho simply responded, "You're working hard," before entering the courthouse. He had also avoided similar questions the previous evening.

Son Bong-ki, 61, is nominated as the successor to Roh Tae-ak, while Kim Sung-soo, 58, is nominated to replace Lee Heung-gu. Reports indicate that Cho did not engage in prior consultations with the presidential office regarding Son's nomination.

The unusual written submission of the nominations, instead of the customary in-person meeting with the president, has led to speculation within legal circles about potential challenges in the confirmation process for the appointed justices.