Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su has apologized to the public for causing concern following the parliament’s decision to impeach judge Lim Seong-geun, the first-ever parliamentary impeachment of a sitting judge. 

In a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Kim also said the passage of the impeachment motion against Lim is “regrettable.” 

It is the second apology the top judge issued in the day after apologizing for giving a false response regarding his talks with the judge in question. 

Lim, a senior judge at the Busan High Court, had said he sought to tender his resignation during his meeting with Chief Justice Kim last May, three months after a Seoul court acquitted him of power abuse charges but acknowledged his "unconstitutional act" of meddling in a trial. 

Lim said Kim rejected it citing a possible impeachment, but the Supreme Court has denied that the Chief Justice ever mentioned the impeachment during the meeting, adding that Lim had not officially tendered his resignation.

Earlier on Thursday, Lim revealed a recording and transcript of the conversation with Kim, where Kim said he would be criticized by the National Assembly if he accepted Lim's resignation as discussions are underway within the ruling party to propose the impeachment motion.

Kim later apologized, saying he felt that it would be inappropriate for Lim to resign in the middle of his term.