Democratic Party Demands Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae 'Resign Immediately' Over Refusal to Re-nominate Justice Candidates

▲ Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae arrives for work at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on September 22.

Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok criticized Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, calling him an "absurd chief justice" after Cho expressed his refusal to re-nominate Supreme Court justice candidates.

Attending a budget policy consultative meeting held at Incheon City Hall today (September 22), Kim addressed the news of Chief Justice Cho's refusal to re-nominate, saying, "It is truly absurd, whether he is engaging in a power struggle with the president or disregarding both the president and the public."

He questioned, "The constitutional basis that the chief justice is seeking (for re-nomination) is crystal clear. What clearer basis could there be than the president's constitutional authority to appoint Supreme Court justices?" adding, "Is it constitutional if he does it, and unconstitutional if the president and the public do it?"

Floor Leader Han Byung-do also argued on Facebook today, "Claiming that the president must unconditionally appoint the candidate nominated by the chief justice undermines the appointment authority of the president elected by sovereign citizens."

Regarding Chief Justice Cho citing the lack of specific reasons stated in the official document as grounds for refusing re-nomination, Han called it "preposterous" and pointed out that "he is bringing down the independence and authority of the judiciary by his own hands."

He then urged, "Claiming that the president must unconditionally appoint the candidate nominated by the chief justice undermines the appointment authority of the president elected by sovereign citizens," adding, "Please swiftly re-nominate Supreme Court justice candidates."

Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo criticized in a written briefing, "While the president is out of the country, Chief Justice Cho committed a coup-like act that directly denies the exercise of presidential authority."

Spokesperson Lee added, "This explicitly demonstrates an imperial view of the judiciary that places the chief justice's nomination authority above the president's appointment authority," and demanded, "Chief Justice Cho must resign immediately."

Lawmakers of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party, and the Progressive Party also held a press conference at the National Assembly today, fiercely criticizing it as a "judicial coup following the prosecution coup."

They said, "Taking advantage of the president's absence from South Korea to issue a piecemeal refusal bound by formal logic is an unfortunate act that not only abandons basic courtesy toward the public, but also takes the judiciary's grave responsibility lightly."

They added, "With each Supreme Court justice handling 4,000 cases a year, a vacancy on the Supreme Court infringes upon the citizens' right to a speedy trial," and urged, "The chief justice must face the reality that a prolonged Supreme Court vacancy leads to damage suffered by the people."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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