Democratic Party Demands Chief Justice Resign Over Refusal to Re-Recommend Supreme Court Nominee

On Tuesday, the Democratic Party sharply criticized Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de for refusing to put forward a new candidate for the top court, demanding that he step down and issue a fresh recommendation. Party leader Kim Min-seok described the refusal as baffling and hinted it could be a challenge to the president, while emphasizing the president's constitutional right to appoint justices. Floor Leader Han Byung-do added that requiring the president to follow the chief justice's recommendation would undermine the president's appointment powers.

In contrast, the People Power Party welcomed Jo's decision, saying it upheld the separation of powers and that the president should forward the existing nominee, Son Bong-kie, to the National Assembly for review. Jeong Jeom-sig warned that repeated presidential demands for re-recommendations could let the president influence judges for his own cases, and called for the president's pending trials to resume.