Supreme Court chief says will clarify stance over justice recommendation at parliamentary audit

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said he will explain his refusal to newly recommend a top court justice at the upcoming parliamentary audit. The dispute began after the presidential office asked him last month to make a new recommendation to President Lee Jae Myung, which Cho rejected last week. Cho said he would state his position when the audit begins Oct. 6.

Cho said he could not comply because the request did not specify concrete reasons or constitutional grounds.

Cheong Wa Dae rebuked Cho after his refusal, saying his view violated the Constitution.

Under the Constitution, Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chief justice and with the consent of the National Assembly.

Published Sep 28, 2026 10:51 am KST

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae speaks to reporters as he arrives at the court in Seoul's Seocho District, Monday. Yonhap

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae said Monday he plans to clear up his position over his refusal to newly recommend a candidate to the top court during the upcoming annual parliamentary audit.

The chief justice has been embroiled in a dispute with the presidential office over the recommendation after the presidential office last month asked Cho to recommend a new justice candidate to President Lee Jae Myung.

Cho refused to comply with the request last week, citing a lack of specific reasons or constitutional grounds to do so.

When asked about the issue Monday, Cho told reporters he would state his position through the parliamentary audit of the court, scheduled to begin Oct. 6.

Cho's refusal last week sparked swift rebuke from Cheong Wa Dae, which accused him of harboring a view in violation of the Constitution.

最高法院首席大法官赵熙大表示，他将在即将举行的国会审计中解释其拒绝推荐最高法院大法官人选的原因。此前，总统府上个月要求赵熙大向总统李在明提出新的推荐人选，但遭到赵熙大上周的拒绝。赵熙大表示，他将在10月6日审计开始时阐明自己的立场。

赵表示他无法满足该要求，因为该要求没有具体说明理由或宪法依据。

青瓦台在赵某拒绝后对其进行了斥责，称他的观点违反了宪法。

根据宪法规定，最高法院法官由总统根据首席大法官的推荐，并经国民议会同意任命。

发布于2026年9月28日上午10:51（韩国标准时间）

周一，韩国最高法院院长赵熙大抵达位于首尔瑞草区的最高法院时，向记者发表了讲话。（韩联社）

最高法院首席大法官赵熙大周一表示，他计划在即将举行的年度国会审计中澄清自己拒绝向最高法院推荐新候选人的立场。

首席大法官与总统府就人选推荐问题产生了争议，此前总统府上个月要求赵小兰向李在明总统推荐一位新的大法官候选人。

上周，赵显龙拒绝了这一请求，理由是缺乏具体理由或宪法依据。

周一被问及此事时，赵显龙告诉记者，他将通过定于10月6日开始的国会对法院的审计来表明自己的立场。

上周赵的拒绝引发了青瓦台的迅速谴责，青瓦台指责他持有违反宪法的观点。