Kim Min-seok Targets Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae: "Unprecedented Embers of Insurrection"

▲ Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok appearing on the live broadcast 'Min-T 07' on the party's official YouTube channel 'Minjoo Party TV'

Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said regarding Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's refusal of the Blue House's request to re-recommend a Supreme Court justice candidate that "this inherently bears the nature of an insurrection."

Appearing today (September 23) on the live broadcast 'Min-T 07' on the party's official YouTube channel 'Minjoo Party TV', Kim made the remarks regarding the Supreme Court's decision to overturn and remand President Lee Jae-myung's Public Official Election Act violation case a month before the June 3, 2025 presidential election, stating, "Whether it is that the Supreme Court failed to take a clear stance (during martial law) and seemed to stand with the forces of insurrection, or that it virtually attempted to kill candidate Lee Jae-myung afterward, in continuation of all this, it is now disregarding the Constitution and attempting to trample on the rights of the people."

Kim said, "This is truly an unprecedented incident," adding, "It is without precedent for a chief justice to disregard the Constitution and the law like this and play a power struggle game with the president."

He continued, "This is an unprecedented ember of insurrection," emphasizing, "As erratic behavior by the last holdout of the already suppressed insurrection forces, this inevitably has to be cleared up."

Kim also mentioned suspicions surrounding Chief Justice Cho's use of institutional business expenses, asserting, "It actually amounts to breach of trust," and "He is committing constitutional violations while already being morally flawed."

He added, "Regarding how we will handle this issue, we will look at it deeply from multiple angles and resolve it wisely and step by step."

In response to mentions that some within the ruling camp are urging for the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho, Kim stated, "We clearly understand the fundamental nature of this issue, but because the process of public understanding, explanation, and persuasion is also very important, we will take those steps progressively."

He continued, "In that process, there could be various questions in the National Assembly, there could be a parliamentary investigation, and depending on circumstances, if there are problems, there could also be a special counsel," adding, "Because there are various procedures, methods, and processes, we will respond comprehensively and from multiple angles."

Regarding President Lee's keynote address at the UN General Assembly, Kim evaluated, "He raised the preciousness of UN multilateralism," and "It served as a message toward the UN while piecing together a different position on President Trump's worldview like a puzzle."

Kim especially noted President Lee's proposal of a 'solidarity of constructive contributor nations' as a solution to global energy supply chain issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, saying, "It presented another paradigm for the future international order and responses to the Strait of Hormuz."

He also remarked, "Regarding the North Korea-U.S. issue as well, while recognizing the United States' position, it delivered a message to both North Korea and the U.S. simultaneously, making it a very strategically well-delivered message."

In addition, during a segment reading viewers' comments, Kim remarked regarding the "stone in the shoe" comment made by writer Rhyu Si-min, a commentator aligned with the ruling bloc, saying, "Stones become boulders; that is how the history of the people is."

This is interpreted as being said with a line from a poem President Lee wrote during his past tenure as mayor of Seongnam in mind: "Someday, I will become a boulder that crushes the kicking foot."

Previously, Rhyu had used the expression "stone" in a different context, comparing the issue of some within the ruling camp using derogatory terms against other supporters to a "stone in the shoe," stating, "President Lee needs to take it out and shake it off before moving forward, but instead of recognizing that a stone got in, it seems he is in a state of just thinking, 'It's just uncomfortable.'"

(Photo: Screenshot from Minjoo Party TV, Yonhap News)

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