Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae stated that "the independence, fairness, integrity, and public trust in the judiciary must always be protected." His remarks come amid ongoing tensions with the Blue House over judicial appointments, suggesting that the standoff is likely to continue.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 20th Asia-Pacific Chief Justices Conference held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on September 18, Cho said, "While the legal systems and conditions of each country may differ, we share a fundamental duty to uphold the rule of law, protect fundamental rights, and realize justice fairly and independently."
He added, "One clear takeaway from this conference is that while the judiciary must respond to changes, the principles that guide us must be steadfast. The independence, fairness, integrity, and public trust in the judiciary must always be protected."
Earlier, during his opening remarks the previous day, Cho emphasized that "the independence of judicial authority must be upheld, regardless of the challenges we face." Legal experts interpret his continued emphasis on judicial independence following President Yoon Suk-yeol's comments at a Blue House press conference, where he suggested that the reasons for granting independence to national institutions should be reconsidered, as a clear indication that Cho will not yield to pressure from the Blue House.
This conflict began when Cho nominated Song Bong-ki, a chief judge at the Daegu District Court, as a candidate to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ack on August 18. However, the presidential office unusually expressed its refusal, stating it was an "unilateral nomination without substantial consultation" and demanded a re-nomination.
The Blue House has pressured the Supreme Court to re-nominate a different candidate from the existing pool recommended by the Supreme Court Justice Candidate Recommendation Committee in January. However, there are growing opinions within the judiciary that a new recommendation committee should be formed in accordance with the Court Organization Act.
After receiving the Blue House's re-nomination request on August 28, Cho indicated he would clarify his position the following week (early September). However, he unexpectedly faced a family bereavement and has been engaged in court schedules, including attending the Asia-Pacific Chief Justices Conference, leading to over 20 days of deliberation.
Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific Chief Justices Conference concluded with participation from approximately 40 chief justices and judges from various countries, marking the largest gathering of its kind, where judicial issues and directions for institutional development were shared.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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