KOR
▲ Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae
The ruling and opposition parties clashed again today (October 17) over Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
As the Democratic Party, which formalized discussions on pursuing an impeachment against Chief Justice Cho, emphasized that it would "hold him accountable to the end," the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party's attacks on the head of the judiciary and argued again that "introducing an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cho will signal the fall of the administration."
In a written briefing that day, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo said, "From the refusal to recommend Supreme Court justice reappointments and prolonged vacancies, to allegations of election interference stemming from the remand right before the presidential election, and controversies over falsely recorded business expenses and improper bonus payments, there are more than enough questions Chief Justice Cho must answer," adding, "Even as Chief Justice, one cannot avoid scrutiny over the use of taxpayers' money and the exercise of power."
He went on to emphasize, "It is the National Assembly's duty to verify allegations of unconstitutionality and illegality and hold him appropriately accountable."
He also addressed People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik, who claimed that "the moment an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cho is introduced, the public will shout 'impeach Lee Jae-myung,'" saying, "It is a truly irresponsible remark to drag in the president as a threat when holding the Chief Justice accountable. Are you trying to turn the pursuit of Chief Justice Cho's accountability into political retaliation against the president?"
He added, "Threats against the president cannot cover up Chief Justice Cho's responsibility," urging, "Halt the impeachment agitation using the public as an excuse and stop shielding Cho Hee-dae unconditionally. The Democratic Party will not waver in the face of the People Power Party's threats and will hold Chief Justice Cho accountable to the end."
In response, People Power Party chief spokesperson Park Sung-hoon countered, "The Democratic Party's chronic impeachment obsession has flared up again," adding, "Introducing an impeachment motion against the head of the judiciary will serve as a signal flare announcing the fall of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
Directing criticism at Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, he condemned the move as "an excessively petty behavior aimed at pulling out impeachment as a tool for political pressure and taking the Chief Justice as a 'political hostage.'"
Floor chief spokesperson Choi Soo-jin also criticized, "The giant ruling party's 'abuse of impeachment' has finally taken direct aim even at the head of the judiciary," adding, "The primary party, which should uphold the Constitution and the law, has been swept up by the instigation of the Rebuilding Korea Party and the demands of hard-line supporters, and is fanatically bent on neutralizing the judiciary."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
