Chief Justice Hoidae Cho: "The Courts Must Not Be Swayed by Improper Interference from Political Authorities and Others"

Emphasizes Judicial Independence on Korean Courts Day
"As Conflicts Intensify, Courts Must Adhere to Law and Principle"
Remarks Draw Attention Amid Supreme Court Nomination Dispute

Chief Justice Hoidae Cho emphasized the importance of judicial independence, stating that "the courts must not be subject to improper interference or influence from other state institutions, political authorities, or social forces."

Chief Justice Choi Hee-dae is delivering a commemorative speech at the 2026 Court Day ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

At the 12th annual 'Korean Courts Day' ceremony held at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 11th, Chief Justice Cho declared, "As a constitutionally independent state institution, the courts must adjudicate cases in a neutral and fair manner in accordance with the Constitution and laws, free from any improper interference or influence not only from other state institutions, political authorities, and social forces, but also from the parties to a case."

He continued, "Only then can the rights and freedoms of the people be fully protected and the rule of law realized," adding, "It is the solemn duty of the judiciary, as the final safeguard of citizens' fundamental rights, to unwaveringly fulfill our constitutional mission under any circumstances."

To the members of the judiciary, Cho also advised, "The number of complex and difficult cases is increasing every day, and more often social conflict and extreme polarization are ending up in the courts," stressing that "the more intense the conflict, the more unwaveringly the courts must fulfill their role solely according to the law and principles."

Chief Justice Cho's remarks come amid ongoing tensions between the Supreme Court and the presidential office over the nomination of a Supreme Court justice candidate.

On August 18, Chief Justice Cho recommended Bongki Son, Chief Judge of the Daegu District Court, as a candidate for Supreme Court justice through a written nomination. Ten days later, the presidential office responded by requesting a resubmission, stating that the nomination "lacked procedural completion." The Supreme Court is expected to announce its position on the matter soon.

Since 2015, the courts have designated and commemorated September 13 each year as 'Korean Courts Day' to mark the anniversary of the final transfer of judicial authority from the U.S. military administration, which returned what had been lost during the Japanese occupation, in 1948.

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