South Korea’s Supreme Court Delays Official Position on Chief Justice Nominations

South Korea’s Supreme Court postponed an official position on the disputed renomination of Supreme Court justice candidates, saying on Sept. 4 that it was still reviewing the matter carefully.

“The matter is being carefully reviewed,” the court said, adding that there would be no separate official announcement that day. It said it would inform the public promptly once the review was complete.

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae had nominated Son Bong-ki, a senior judge at Daegu District Court, and Kim Seong-soo, a senior judge at Seoul High Court, as successors to former Justice Noh Tae-ak and Justice Lee Heung-koo. The presidential office later decided not to submit Son’s appointment-consent request to the National Assembly and asked Cho to nominate a new candidate.

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We are carefully reviewing the matter, and there will be no separate official announcement today.

The dispute prompted Cho to apologize for causing concern and promise an official position during the week. That timetable was delayed after his father’s death, which kept him away from work until Sept. 2. Cho returned early from bereavement leave on Sept. 3 and said the renomination issue had not been discussed because of work-related circumstances. He said he would hear the views inside the court before speaking officially.

Kim transferred from the Seoul High Court to the Supreme Court on Sept. 2 and began preparing for a parliamentary personnel hearing.

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I will go inside, listen, and speak officially again.