Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae of South Korea is currently facing criticism for failing to recommend a successor for outgoing Justice Roh Tae-ack, whose retirement is imminent. More than a month has passed since the Judicial Candidate Recommendation Committee proposed four candidates, yet there has been no announcement from the Chief Justice. Cho has previously emphasized the importance of resolving judicial delays, a concern that grows more urgent with each passing day that a vital position remains unfilled. The irony of a Supreme Court missing a Justice during a time of significant cases adds to the urgency of the situation. The Judicial Candidate Recommendation Committee has put forth four candidates: Kim Min-ki, Park Sun-young, Son Bong-ki, and Yoon Sung-sik, all of whom are judges. Typically, the Chief Justice's recommendation occurs within a week or two; however, this case has dragged on for over a month. Speculation suggests that differences between the Chief Justice and President Yoon Suk-yeol over candidate preferences may be causing the delay. This situation is further complicated by conflicts arising from the ruling party's push for an increase in the number of Justices and controversial judicial proposals. Historically, when the Chief Justice and President have disagreed on Judicial candidates, the Chief Justice has respected the prevailing power of the elected President and executed their recommendation duty. The current nominee process is significant, as Roh Tae-ack's replacement will mark the first appointment of a Justice under the Lee Jae-myung administration. Calls for diversity in the Supreme Court emphasize the need for varied backgrounds among Justices, yet these nominees fail to represent such diversity, only reflecting minor variations in ideology and experience. Any reluctance on the Chief Justice's part to recommend candidates appears unfounded, as both the public and experts call for meaningful reform and diversity within the judiciary.