The presidential office is reviewing a plan to return the appointment recommendation for Son Bong-gi, Daegu District Court chief judge (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 22), whom Jo Hee-de, chief justice, nominated as a new Supreme Court justice.
On the 20th, the presidential office said, "As this is an unprecedented situation in the constitutional history of the Republic of Korea and an unparalleled one-sided notice that skipped consultation, it is a matter for which other precedents and laws must first be thoroughly reviewed." This means it is also considering returning the recommendation without sending the consent to appoint Son, the chief judge, to the National Assembly.
On the 18th, Chief Justice Jo recommended to President Lee Jae-myung the appointment of Son, the chief judge, and Kim Seong-su, Seoul High Court chief judge (class 24), to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak and Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu, respectively.
In the process, criticism emerged that there had not been sufficient prior coordination with the presidential office regarding the recommendation of Son, the chief judge, prompting backlash from the ruling bloc. The specific timing for returning it is reportedly undecided.
The Democratic Party of Korea is also criticizing Chief Justice Jo for recommending a Supreme Court justice candidate in writing without agreement with the presidential office. Kim Min-seok, the party leader, on the day instructed Kim Nam-joon, head of public relations, to put up a banner reading "Jo Hee-de, who destroyed the rule of law, must step down."