Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and other Cabinet members attend a plenary session of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee on Monday. [Yonhap]
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and other Cabinet members attend a plenary session of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee on Monday. [Yonhap]

Hong Ik-pyo, Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for political affairs, said Monday he shares the view held by some in the ruling camp that Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae's written submission of Supreme Court justice candidates infringed on the president's appointment authority.

Speaking at a comprehensive policy hearing of the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee that morning, Hong was asked by People Power Party lawmaker Jo Bae-sook whether the chief justice's nomination process had any legal problems. "Whether there are legal issues will require further examination of the process, but it is quite far removed from established practice," Hong said. "I share the view that the president's appointment authority was infringed upon to a certain degree."

Lawmaker Jo shot back, saying the real reason Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party were raising objections was that their preferred candidates had not been submitted. "Could it not be that, knowing President Lee Jae Myung may face trial after his term ends, they are trying to appoint loyalists to the Supreme Court to create a favorable environment?" she said. Hong shrugged off the suggestion, saying he "cannot agree at all."

When Jo pressed further, saying "even if you disagree, that is how the public understands it," Hong fired back: "You may want to verify which members of the public you are referring to."

Hong also rebuffed Jo's characterization that Cheong Wa Dae and the Supreme Court had "come into direct confrontation" over the written nomination. "I find it difficult to agree that Cheong Wa Dae and the Supreme Court have clashed," he said.

Asked about Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok's recent demand that Chief Justice Jo resign — referring to him by name without his title — Hong said it was "not appropriate for Cheong Wa Dae to evaluate or comment on every statement made by the ruling party leader" and declined to elaborate.

Lawmaker Jo criticized the remark, saying it was "highly inappropriate and disrespectful to the public for a ruling party leader to speak that way in an official setting."


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