What did Hong Ik-pyo say about Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s written recommendation of Supreme Court justice nominees?

Hong said he shared the view that the president’s appointment authority had been infringed on to a certain extent. He added that the move was far from the existing customary practice of recommending nominees to the president after prior consultation.

Why did the presidential office object to the justice nominee recommendation process?

Hong said Chief Justice Cho made the recommendation in writing without following the customary practice of consulting the president first and presenting the nominees in person. He said legal issues would need to be judged after reviewing the procedures, but the process differed sharply from the usual practice.

How did the opposition and ruling parties respond to the dispute over Supreme Court justice nominations?

Ruling party lawmakers criticized the chief justice for bypassing the president and some urged him to resign. The main opposition party said the ruling bloc was trying to nullify the chief justice’s authority and legal rights to recommend nominees, while PPP leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok said that authority was a key safeguard of judicial independence.

Aide says justice nominee recommendation without consultation infringes on presidential rights

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Summary

A top presidential aide said Monday that the chief justice’s written recommendation of two Supreme Court justice nominees without prior consultation may have infringed on the president’s appointment authority. Hong Ik-pyo made the remarks in a parliamentary session a week after Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae recommended the nominees. Hong said the move was far from customary practice, while ruling and opposition lawmakers continued to clash over the chief justice’s authority.

Key Facts

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae recommended two sitting regional court judges for appointment as new Supreme Court justices by the president a week before Hong Ik-pyo’s remarks.
Cho made the recommendations in writing without the customary prior consultation and in-person delivery to the president.
Hong said he shared the view that the president’s appointment authority had been infringed on to a certain extent.
Hong said legal issues should be determined after reviewing the procedures, but the move was far from existing customary practice.
The main opposition People Power Party accused the ruling bloc of trying to nullify the chief justice’s authority and legal rights to recommend justice nominees.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 24, 2026 4:10 pm KST

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.

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