Aide says justice nominee recommendation without consultation infringes on presidential rights
Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo speaks during a meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
A top presidential aide said Monday that the chief justice's recommendation of Supreme Court justice nominees without prior consultation may have infringed on the president's authority to appoint public officials.
Hong Ik-pyo, presidential secretary for political affairs, made the remarks during a parliamentary session, a week after Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae recommended two sitting regional court judges for appointment as new Supreme Court justices by the president.
Cho, appointed by former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, made the recommendations in writing, without following the customary practice of making recommendations to the president in person after prior consultation on the nominees.
"I share the view that the president's appointment authority has been infringed on to a certain extent," the presidential secretary said after being asked about the issue by Rep. Cho Bae-sook of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
Asked whether the recommendations were legally wrong, Hong responded, "Legal issues should be (determined) after looking into the procedures, but it was a far cry from the existing customary practice."
Cho argued that Cheong Wa Dae was opposed to the recommendations because it wants to appoint justices who are favorable to President Lee Jae Myung, as the president could face trials after leaving office.
Hong said he could never accept such a view.
The presidential secretary's remarks came amid growing criticism from ruling party lawmakers that the chief Supreme Court justice bypassed the president, with some urging him to resign.
The main opposition party has accused the ruling bloc of trying to nullify the chief justice's authority and legal rights to recommend justice nominees, while PPP leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok stressed that such authority represented a key safeguard of judicial independence.