Why the Unprecedented 'Impeachment Card'? A High-Stakes Move to Rally the Base

[Anchor]

In South Korea's constitutional history, no chief justice of the Supreme Court has ever been impeached by the National Assembly, let alone removed from office through impeachment. Why, then, has the ruling party brought up the option of reviewing an impeachment of the chief justice at this particular moment? In an opinion poll released today (October 16), President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating stood at 39% as he marked his 500th day in office. Analysis suggests this is a move to rally supporters and turn the political tide using the "impeachment card."

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Today, on President Lee Jae-myung's 500th day in office, polling agency Gallup Korea announced the results of a survey conducted over three days starting October 13 among 1,003 adults aged 18 and older nationwide, showing President Lee's approval rating at 39%.

According to the Gallup poll, President Lee's approval rating fell below 50% for the first time in a survey during the second week of August and has remained in the 30% range across the last four surveys.

When asked about the general elections a year and six months away, 34% responded that "more ruling party candidates should be elected," while 47% said "more opposition candidates should be elected."

Under these circumstances, attention is focusing on the background behind Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok officially putting forward the option of considering the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.

Given the strong anti-Cho Hee-dae sentiment among pro-government supporters, analysts say the move is calculated to reduce centrifugal forces such as the departure of core supporters amid controversies over prosecution reform and the appointment of the head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, while solidifying the political base.

This is because the very situation in which Chief Justice Cho is in direct conflict with President Lee by refusing to re-nominate a Supreme Court justice serves as a unifying force within the ruling camp.

[Cho Hee-dae / Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Oct. 6): "Interfering with the chief justice's nomination is an unconstitutional measure that runs counter to the distribution of powers among state institutions explicitly set forth in the Constitution and the independence of judicial power."]

Within the broader ruling camp, views have also grown that the threshold for impeachment has already been met due to Chief Justice Cho's remarks directed at President Lee that "interference with nominations is unconstitutional," as well as his refusal to take an oath as a witness during the parliamentary audit.

[Kim Ki-pyo / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "The grounds for impeachment are more than sufficient. That is why I am arguing that we must unconditionally impeach him in this current situation."]

However, cautious voices within parts of the ruling party remain formidable, as an unprecedented suspension of a chief justice's duties resulting from an impeachment motion could spark a political backlash, and the Constitutional Court might not even reach a final decision before Chief Justice Cho's retirement in June next year.

(Camera by Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Nam Il | Design by Jaegal Chan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.