During the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's parliamentary audit of the Constitutional Court today (October 13), the ruling and opposition parties launched heated offensives targeting Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae of the Supreme Court and Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan, respectively.

Representative Park Gyun-taek of the Democratic Party argued, "Chief Justice Cho claims that the president has infringed upon his recommendation authority," adding, "While the chief justice's right to recommend is stipulated in the Constitution, I believe the ultimate judgment, which is a higher concept, lies with the president's appointment power."

[Park Gyun-taek / Democratic Party Lawmaker: "The secretary general's expression seems to naturally convey that there is an issue with Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's attitude. Isn't that actually the case?"]

Representative Kim Han-kyu argued that the Constitutional Court should "dismiss" the People Power Party's request for an adjudication on competence dispute regarding the presidential office's request to re-recommend a Supreme Court justice nominee, asserting, "It is clearly grounds for dismissal when a specific political party or lawmaker, rather than the National Assembly speaker, files for review on behalf of the National Assembly."

On the other hand, Representative Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party criticized Court President Kim, saying, "In October last year, the Constitutional Court president was accompanied by his spouse without an invitation to the World Conference on Constitutional Justice held in Madrid, Spain."

[Yoon Sang-hyun / People Power Party Lawmaker: "I read through the entire English invitation. There was no mention whatsoever of bringing a spouse. It is a false report."]

Representative Gwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party demanded, "The 2025 business promotion expenses for the Constitutional Court president amounted to 945 million won, and it appears about 50 million won was spent in cash," adding, "Please submit documents including receipts related to business promotion expenses from 2022 to this year."

Meanwhile, the audit descended into chaos for a time as shouts were traded between the ruling and opposition parties after Representative Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party delivered personal remarks during his questioning time regarding the controversy over President Lee Jae-myung's golf course use.

(Reported by Jeon Yeonnam | Video by Oh Young-chun, Lee Seung-hwan, and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Nam Il | Produced by SBS Digital News)