Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked party members to exercise restraint in their remarks and show respect following the death of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Jo Hee-dae’s father. However, as of 2:07 p.m. on August 31, 2026, reports described Kim’s visit to the funeral home as under review or planned, and its completion had not been independently confirmed by that time.

Key Changes

Jo Bu-hwan, the 93-year-old father of Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, died on August 30, 2026. Reports said the funeral was being held at the funeral hall of Pohang St. Mary’s Hospital in Nam-gu, Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

Kim Min-seok asked the party to refrain from directly naming or addressing Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae during the funeral period and to show the utmost respect in public remarks.

The changes confirmed in this update concern guidance on public remarks toward Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae during the funeral period and consideration of a condolence visit.

Current Status

As of 2:07 p.m., reports described Kim Min-seok’s condolence visit as under review or planned. Therefore, articles based on that reference time cannot state conclusively that the visit had been completed.

The confirmed details are as follows:

  • Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae’s father died, and a funeral site was arranged in Pohang
  • Kim Min-seok asked party members to refrain from directly naming or addressing Jo Hee-dae
  • The party was instructed to show the utmost respect in public remarks
  • Reports described Kim Min-seok’s condolence visit as under review or planned

Impact

This response concerns official political remarks and condolence plans during the funeral period. It should be considered separately from the controversy over the written recommendation and re-recommendation of Supreme Court justice candidates.

In earlier official Democratic Party materials, Kim Min-seok criticized Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae’s written recommendation of Supreme Court justice candidates as a unilateral measure taken without consultation with the president. Meanwhile, Court Administration처장 Noh Kyung-pil said that each side’s authority should be respected in connection with the Blue House’s request for a re-recommendation after not sending the Supreme Court justice candidates’ consent bill to the National Assembly.

Accordingly, there is no confirmed basis for inferring a political agreement or change in relations over the Supreme Court justice recommendation controversy solely from the request for respect during the funeral period or consideration of a condolence visit.

Next Checkpoint

The first point to confirm in this matter is whether Kim Min-seok actually visited the funeral home. The article’s reference time is 2:07 p.m., and subsequent reports may change the status, so whether the condolence visit was completed requires follow-up confirmation.

Sources checked:

  • Yonhap News, “Kim Min-seok instructs party to show respect at Jo Hee-dae’s father’s funeral… condolence visit also under review,” checked at 11:26 a.m. on August 31, 2026: https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20260831083200001
  • MBC News, “Ruling party: ‘Kim Min-seok says respect should be shown during Jo Hee-dae’s father’s funeral… condolence visit also under review,’” checked at 2:07 p.m. on August 31, 2026: https://imnews.imbc.com/news/2026/politics/article/6848489_36911.html
  • Yonhap News, “Court Administration처장 on Blue House refusal to recommend Supreme Court justices: ‘Each side’s authority should be respected,’” checked at 2:07 p.m. on August 31, 2026: https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20260831089700001
  • Official Democratic Party materials, “Opening Remarks at the 4th Supreme Council Meeting,” checked at 2:07 p.m. on August 31, 2026: https://www.theminjoo.kr/main/sub/news/view.php?brd=230&post=1219781