[Anchor]
The political circle has shown sharply divided reactions over Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's refusal to resubmit a nomination for Supreme Court justice. The Democratic Party defined it as a "judicial coup" and an "unprecedented rebellion," demanding his resignation. The People Power Party pushed back, claiming that the ruling bloc's offensive destroys the separation of powers.
Reporter Kim Jin-woo has the details.
[Reporter]
Today (September 22), the Democratic Party held a general meeting of lawmakers and a condemnation rally at the National Assembly, demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
Party Leader Kim Min-seok fiercely criticized Chief Justice Cho's explanation that "no constitutional basis can be found" for complying with the request for resubmission, even using words such as "fool" and "dyslexic."
[Kim Min-seok / Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea: "Isn't this something even a despicable assassin wouldn't do? The president boarded a plane, and what kind of Supreme Court Chief Justice assassin stabs him in the back?"]
The Democratic Party defined Chief Justice Cho's refusal to resubmit a Supreme Court justice nomination as a "judicial coup" and an "unprecedented rebellion," threatening that they would certainly suppress it, but as for the plan to pursue an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cho, the floor leadership mentioned political burdens and maintained a cautious stance for now.
Regarding the future response stance, Leader Kim stated, "We will not respond hastily, but will go through a process of explaining to and persuading the public."
The People Power Party supported Chief Justice Cho's refusal, calling it a natural judgment, and responded to the ruling bloc's offensive by calling it a "plot to destroy the separation of powers."
The party raised its voice, claiming that this incident occurred because President Lee Jae-myung tried to place a judge of his choice on the Supreme Court.
[Jang Dong-hyeok / Leader of the People Power Party: "It is an attempt to install Judge Kim Mingi, a 'Lee Jae-myung pick' from the Our Law Research Society, as a Supreme Court justice to obtain acquittals in the president's own trial and the trials of his accomplices."]
The People Power Party filed an adjudication on competence dispute with the Constitutional Court yesterday (September 21), claiming that President Lee's request for resubmission infringed upon constitutional powers such as the National Assembly's right of consent to the appointment of Supreme Court justices.
Whether through the competence dispute adjudication or an impeachment motion by the Democratic Party-led National Assembly, the Constitutional Court will decide whose side to take, but there are growing concerns that public harm will worsen due to the direct clash between the president and the Chief Justice and the resulting prolonged vacancy of a Supreme Court justice seat.
Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Jeon Mingyu | Graphics by Kim Han-gil
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