Judiciary Committee, Led by Ruling Party, Approves Inquiry into Supreme Court Justice Recommendations Controversy Involving Cho Hee-dae

Noh Kyungpil, Director of the Court Administration Office, Also Selected as a Witness

Democratic Party Secretary Kim Seungwon Calls for Abolition of the Court Administration Office

Dispute Arises Over Justice Minister Jeong Seongho’s Absence

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly (hereafter referred to as the Judiciary Committee) has appointed Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae as a witness for a pending issues inquiry scheduled for August 31, in connection with controversies surrounding the submission of Supreme Court justice recommendations in written form.

On this day, the Judiciary Committee convened a plenary session at the National Assembly and, under the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, passed the “Motion to Summon Witnesses” for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Noh Kyung-pil, Director of the Court Administration Office (Supreme Court Justice). Lawmakers from the People Power Party walked out in protest against the adoption of the witnesses just before the vote.

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Hyunwoo = On the 21st, during the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly, lawmakers from the People Power Party opposed the motion to summon Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Director of the Court Administration Office Noh Kyung-pil as witnesses, and left the meeting room, leaving their seats empty. August 21, 2026 nowwego@yna.co.kr (End)

Members of the Judiciary Committee affiliated with the governing coalition plan to question the process of recommending Supreme Court justice candidates, the referral of cases to the Supreme Court’s Grand Bench, and the procedures of the Court Administration Office in recommending Supreme Court justice candidates.

Judiciary Committee members from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and the Progressive Party issued a statement this morning urging Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to resign and calling for the Presidential Office to reject the Supreme Court justice nomination. They stated, “Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae respected Yoon Suk Yeol’s appointment authority but ignored President Lee Jaemyung’s. The Presidential Office should consider all measures permitted under the Constitution and the law to protect the president’s legitimate powers of appointment.”

Kim Seungwon, a committee secretary from the ruling party, said Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Director Noh Kyung-pil “have shown an excessive disregard for the National Assembly and the Presidential Office,” adding, “They must appear at the plenary session and fully explain their actions without hiding behind curtains or proxies.”

Additionally, during an appearance on MBC Radio that day, Assemblyman Kim advocated for the abolition of the Court Administration Office. He stated, “We should consider establishing a Judicial Administration Committee or transforming the Court Administration Office, which has acted as a task force for the Chief Justice, into a Court Secretariat that would only handle executive duties.” He added, “Due to Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s illegal actions, judicial reform, which had been bubbling beneath the surface because of prosecutorial reform, is now back at the forefront.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho did not attend the Judiciary Committee plenary session that morning due to health reasons. The opposition party expressed strong regret regarding his absence, questioning, “Is not fulfilling one’s responsibilities the attitude of a Minister of Justice after submitting a letter of resignation?”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.