The Democratic Party (DP) has continued its offensive calling for the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, who submitted a written nomination for a Supreme Court justice candidate to President Lee Jae-myung.

However, despite fierce criticism within the ruling camp that Chief Justice Cho engaged in "judicial politics" by breaking the custom of coordinating with the presidential office before nominating a candidate, the party leadership appears to be maintaining a cautious stance on pushing for impeachment itself.

Yesterday, Party Leader Kim Min-seok criticized the Chief Justice, asking, "Why are you trying to walk the path of an accomplice to rebellion?" and adding, "I believe it is right for Cho Hee-dae, the worst Chief Justice since liberation, to step down." Today, he ordered banners stating "Destroyer of the rule of law Cho Hee-dae must step down" to be posted nationwide.

During a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly today, Floor Leader Han Byung-do criticized, "This is a unilateral notification disguised as the right to nominate, and a serious infringement on the President's constitutional right of appointment," adding, "They are trying to reduce the President's right of appointment to a mere ex-post ratification stamp."

He continued, "Chief Justice Cho's clock seems to move according to political calculations rather than laws and principles," and vowed, "We will hold the Chief Justice accountable to the end."

Cheon Jun-ho, senior deputy floor leader for operation, urged, "This is a personnel scandal that shakes the foundation of the Republic of Korea," demanding that "Chief Justice Cho immediately withdraw the nomination and step down from his post."

Nevertheless, the DP is keeping its distance from pursuing the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho, focusing its party strength for now on pressing for his "voluntary resignation."

Spokesperson Lee Yong-woo said on a CBS radio broadcast today, "Before the National Assembly or the public steps in, we hope that Chief Justice Cho will express his position or that the judiciary will resolve this issue through its own self-correcting mechanisms."

DP Floor Spokesperson Kim Sung-hoe also explained after the floor meeting, "Demands for resignation can be understood as the party's official stance," while adding, "Nothing has been discussed regarding impeachment."

Even though the DP, as a mega ruling party, could swiftly handle everything from proposing to passing an impeachment motion, its cautious stance is analyzed to stem from concerns that if the Kim Min-seok leadership—which launched amid a decline in approval ratings for both the party and the presidential office—were to push for the impeachment of the head of the judiciary, public alienation could accelerate.

Amid a backlog of pending livelihood issues that the National Assembly must swiftly address, such as real estate supply and taxation, and legislation to promote mega projects, Leader Kim promised "the evolution of the Democratic Party's language, policies, attitude, and culture" in his acceptance speech.

Furthermore, the party's attitude is also seen as being influenced by voices within the ruling camp suggesting that it is difficult to classify the exercise of authority by a Chief Justice who holds the nomination right—without coordination with the presidential office—as grounds for impeachment.

DP hardliner Rep. Kim Yong-min stated yesterday, "Although there are various grounds for the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho, we did not say we would impeach him on these grounds," adding, "He should be impeached for the crime of failing to appear before the National Assembly and for violating popular sovereignty by handling [the trials of Kim Keon-hee and Han Duck-soo] through the full bench."

However, regarding the revelation by National Court Administration Director Noh Kyung-pil that he recently contacted Supreme Court justice candidates to ask for their opinions on a plan to restart the candidate recommendation process, there is a view that if Chief Justice Cho was involved, it could constitute grounds for impeachment.

Chairperson of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Seo Young-kyo posted on Facebook, "Foreseeing that his preferred person would not be recommended [as a Supreme Court justice], the Director of the National Court Administration called the candidates, brought up the plan to step down en masse and reconfigure the candidate recommendation committee," criticizing it as "coercing resignations."

There are also speculations that if Chief Justice Cho does not respond to the ruling party's pressure to resign, the party will ultimately have no choice but to pursue impeachment.

Within the party, major grounds for impeachment being discussed include the infringement of trial rights during the process of remanding President Lee Jae-myung's Public Official Election Act violation case just before last year's presidential election, and suspected complicity in rebellion immediately following the declaration of the December 3 emergency martial law.

Previously, some lawmakers from the DP, Rebuilding Korea Party, and independents drew up a draft impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cho containing these details in March, but did not actually submit it.

(Photo: Yonhap News)