Floor leader Han Byeong-do of the Democratic Party of Korea said on the 8th, "Chief Justice Jo Hee-de should promptly proceed with the re-recommendation process among the candidates already recommended by the Supreme Court justice candidate recommendation committee."
At a floor countermeasures meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the same day, Floor Leader Han said, "(Chief Justice Jo) delayed the recommendation for more than half a year and abruptly submitted a written recommendation for a candidate without consultation, and now is even delaying the re-recommendation," and stated accordingly.
Han said, "The vacancy among Supreme Court justices is not simply about two seats being empty. The Supreme Court's Third Division cannot meet the quorum needed for trials and is in a position to move justices from other petty divisions," adding, "Because the cases of Kim Keon-hee, Han Duck-soo, and Lee Sang-min have all been referred to the full bench, they could become the biggest beneficiaries of the shortage of justices."
He added, "The chief justice's power to recommend is not an authority granted to seize personnel control and privatize the judiciary," and said, "The more Chief Justice Jo puts authority and justification first to buy time, the more trials are delayed and the harm goes straight back to the public."
Earlier, Chief Justice Jo recommended Chief Judge Kim Seong-su of the Seoul High Court to succeed retired former Justice Lee Heung-gu, and Chief Judge Son Bong-gi of the Daegu District Court to succeed former Justice Roh Tae-ak. However, the ruling bloc objected to the recommendation of Chief Judge Son, and the presidential office has requested a re-recommendation.
In addition to Chief Judge Kim and Chief Judge Son, whom Chief Justice Jo recommended, the Supreme Court justice candidate recommendation committee recommended Judges Kim Min-gi and Park Sun-young of the Seoul High Court. The presidential office is said to prefer Judge Kim Min-gi among the recommended candidates.