Seoul:Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae has rejected the presidential office's claim of a procedural flaw in the nomination of a Supreme Court justice, following his refusal to make a new recommendation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the controversy began when Cheong Wa Dae requested that Cho recommend a new candidate after taking issue with his written recommendation of one of two nominees to President Lee Jae Myung. Cho declined, citing a lack of specific reasons or constitutional grounds for such an action.

In a statement on Wednesday, Cho emphasized the need for clear grounds and reasoning in official documents to ensure their validity and compliance with the Constitution and law. He found it difficult to accept the reported procedural flaw in the nomination process when considered in terms of constitutional and legal regulations.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung explained that the request for a new recommendation stemmed from a lack of "procedural completeness." In response to Cho's objections, Cheong Wa Dae accused him of misleading the public and urged him to expedite follow-up procedures to protect the public's right to a trial.

A senior presidential official argued that interpreting the Constitution to require the president to accept the chief justice's recommendation would effectively allow the chief justice to appoint justices, undermining the president's appointment authority. The Constitution mandates that Supreme Court justice appointments involve all three branches of government, with the chief justice recommending candidates, the National Assembly conducting confirmation hearings, and the president making the formal appointment.