Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae broke his silence on President Lee Jae Myung's recent request that he recommend another justice nominee by saying that the president has no authority to interfere in the recommendation process. At the National Assembly audit of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Cho cited the separation of powers and judicial independence when he initially refused to testify under oath. The chief justice instead read out a prepared statement, saying "Just as the chief justice cannot interfere in the National Assembly's approval process or the president's appointment process, neither the National Assembly nor the president can interfere in the chief justice's recommendation." Tuesday's audit offered a rare scene as Cho eventually responded to lawmakers' questions. He also appeared last year, but did not make statements or replied to questions. As a customary practice, previous chief justices have only read prepared statements to address the National Assembly, after which the minister of National Court Administration would respond to questions, in the spirit of respecti