Representative Kang Min-kuk of the People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party-led adoption of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae as a witness for the parliamentary audit, calling it an infringement on the independence of the judiciary.

Holding a press conference at the National Assembly's press center on the afternoon of September 29, Rep. Kang claimed that the adoption of Chief Justice Cho as a witness means "the independence of the judiciary and the principle of the separation of powers have collapsed."

Kang pointed out, "The independence of the judiciary is a constitutional value that must not be shaken by an administration's interests or political gains and losses," adding, "Selecting the chief justice as a witness is not simply a matter of making one person appear before the National Assembly."

He then asked, "Is this witness selection based on the public's right to know and the necessity of the parliamentary audit? Or is it intended to exert political pressure on the independent judgment of the judiciary?"

Kang also argued, "Adopting Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae as a witness is a kangaroo court by people in blue armbands under the pretext of a parliamentary audit," calling it "a witch hunt publicly humiliating the head of the judiciary right in the middle of the National Assembly."

He added that it is "an act of constitution-destroying terror that stabs a dagger into the heart of the separation of powers" and "a coup collapsing the separation of powers in which the legislative and executive branches seek to bring the judiciary to its knees."

Yesterday, on September 28, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, selected Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae as a general witness for the parliamentary audit.

The Democratic Party maintains that it needs to investigate the circumstances surrounding Chief Justice Cho's refusal to re-nominate Supreme Court justice candidates.

Protesting the witness selection of Chief Justice Cho, the People Power Party staged a collective walkout without voting.

(Photo: Yonhap News)