South Korea’s chief justice says he will consult before deciding on renomination of Supreme Court candidates

South Korea’s Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae returned to work on the 3rd after his father’s funeral and said he would consult others before deciding whether to renominate a Supreme Court justice candidate.

Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Seoul, Cho said the issue had not been discussed because of his work schedule. He also said he had received no briefing while handling the funeral and would hear the details before making an official statement. “I will consult and then tell you,” he said.

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I will consult and then tell you.

Cho thanked people who had offered condolences and apologized to the public, saying he had intended to hold a modest funeral but that it had unexpectedly attracted attention. He did not answer a question about whether the Supreme Court candidate recommendation committee would be formed again from the beginning.

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I have not been briefed or discussed it at all yet. I will go in, hear about it and speak officially again.

On the 18th of the previous month, Cho proposed Son Bong-ki, a presiding judge at Daegu District Court, and Kim Seong-su, a presiding judge at Seoul High Court, as successors to former Justice Noh Tae-ak and Justice Lee Heung-koo. On the 28th, however, the presidential office decided not to submit Son’s confirmation request to the National Assembly and asked Cho to renominate a candidate.

The dispute has drawn attention to Cho’s next move. He could nominate one of the three remaining recommended candidates, excluding Son, or reconstitute the recommendation committee and seek a new shortlist. Kim transferred his post from the Seoul High Court to the Supreme Court on the 2nd and began preparing for his parliamentary confirmation hearing.

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I am sorry to the public that what was supposed to be a modest funeral suddenly became so elaborate.