Photo : YONHAP News
The main opposition People Power Party has criticized the presidential office for expressing regret over Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de’s refusal to recommend a new candidate for the top court, accusing the Lee Jae Myung administration of hypocrisy and shifting the blame.
In a post on social media Wednesday, party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig argued that President Lee, rather than Jo, is responsible for the six-month delay in appointing a successor to former Justice Rho Tae-ak, claiming Lee had pressured the chief justice to recommend judge Kim Min-ki.
Jeong also accused the president of undermining the chief justice’s authority to recommend Supreme Court justices and violating the principle of the separation of powers by repeatedly pressing for the nomination of a judge of his choosing, as well as making a request for a new recommendation with no constitutional basis.
He said the only way to resolve the situation is for the government to promptly submit a motion seeking parliamentary approval to appoint Son Bong-kie, the candidate Jo recommended, as a Supreme Court justice.
Jeong also called on the government to quickly decide on the future of Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the new Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and promptly nominate candidates to lead the National Police Agency and the new Prosecution Service to ensure stability in the criminal justice system.