Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik will pay his respects on the 31st at the funeral for Chief Justice Jo Hee-de's father. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Kang will visit Pohang St. Mary's Hospital, where the mourning hall for Jo's father has been set up, to offer condolences and convey President Lee Jae-myung's sympathy.
It was reported that the bereaved family declined outside condolences, saying they wished to hold the funeral quietly with family, but a Cheong Wa Dae official said, "The chief of staff plans to pay respects today at the chief justice's father's funeral." The burial is on Nov. 1.
Earlier, Chief Justice Jo clashed with Cheong Wa Dae over the issue of "written recommendation" for a supreme court justice nominee. On the 28th, Cheong Wa Dae said it would not submit to the National Assembly the confirmation request for Son Bong-gi, a senior judge at the Daegu District Court whom Chief Justice Jo recommended to succeed Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak, and noted that President Lee requested a "re-recommendation" of the supreme court justice nominee. Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party argue that the chief justice's recommendation authority undermined the president's appointment power.
It is the first time in constitutional history that the president has rejected a supreme court justice nominee recommended by the chief justice. However, Cheong Wa Dae said, "We will submit a confirmation request to the National Assembly for Kim Sung-soo, the nominee to succeed Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-gu." The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee sought to question Chief Justice Jo and National Court Administration Director General Noh Kyung-pil that day about the circumstances of the written recommendation. But Chief Justice Jo submitted a written statement explaining his absence stating, "The authority to recommend supreme court justices is an independent power granted to the chief justice under the Constitution."
Chief Justice Jo had initially planned to state a position this week on President Lee's request for a re-recommendation of a supreme court justice, but the schedule appears likely to be delayed somewhat due to his father's passing.