[Anchor]

The Democratic Party visited the Supreme Court to demand the resignation of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. Rather than pursuing procedures that carry political burdens, such as impeachment, the party plans to first focus on a public campaign.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon reports.

[Reporter]

Defining Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's refusal to re-recommend a Supreme Court justice nominee as a "judicial coup and rebellion," the Democratic Party made an official protest visit to the Supreme Court yesterday (September 23).

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: He issued a surprise statement just two days before Chuseok. It is like stabbing the president in the back while he is away on an overseas tour....]

Chief Justice Cho was absent from his post after taking annual leave following his morning arrival at work.

[Seo Young-kyo / Democratic Party Lawmaker: I hate to put it this way, but didn't he just run away?]

The Democratic Party mobilized meetings, briefings, and social media to demand Chief Justice Cho's resignation, mentioning a parliamentary investigation or a special counsel probe alongside terms such as "unprecedented turmoil" and "remnants of rebellion."

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leader: This "unprecedented turmoil" will become a trigger for judicial reform. We will use all powers of the National Assembly to investigate, summon, reprimand, and hold him legally accountable....]

The party also criticized Chief Justice Cho's commute hours and his use of operational funds, such as encouragement payments for Supreme Court justices flagged by the Board of Audit and Inspection, while threatening to push for legislation to abolish the National Court Administration.

Although calls for an impeachment motion are growing in some corners of the ruling camp, the Democratic Party leadership plans to first focus on a public campaign to highlight the unconstitutional actions of the Cho Hee-dae judiciary.

The People Power Party fired back, calling the ruling camp's response "double standards and brazen audacity," and stating that the root cause of this situation "lies with President Lee Jae-myung, who refuses to stand trial."

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: Ruling party lawmakers flocked to the Supreme Court to prevent Lee Jae-myung from going to prison. The people will protect Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.]

The party also plans to determine where the responsibility lies through an adjudication on competence dispute filed with the Constitutional Court, stating, "Even the National Assembly's right to consent was infringed upon by a demand for re-recommendation that lacks a constitutional basis."

(Video coverage by Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing by Yoo Mi-ra)