[Anchor]

The ruling party, which decided to launch a parliamentary investigation into allegations surrounding Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, stated that it would thoroughly verify the Chief Justice's constitutional duties. The People Power Party pushed back, calling the parliamentary audit "a very persistent and vicious violence" against Chief Justice Cho.

Reporter Kim Hye-min reports.

[Reporter]

The Democratic Party, which decided to pursue a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae at its general meeting of lawmakers yesterday (October 27), stated that there are numerous allegations surrounding Chief Justice Cho and that it would secure sufficient investigation and evidence.

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: We must clearly reveal before the public whether the judiciary maintained political neutrality and fulfilled the duties assigned to it by the Constitution.]

In response to People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig's objection yesterday that it is "repression of the judiciary and a violation of the separation of powers," it criticized that they are going against the separation of powers themselves.

The Rebuilding Korea Party ratcheted up pressure on the judiciary, repeatedly stating its position that a parliamentary investigation and impeachment should be pursued simultaneously.

[Park Byeong-eon / Rebuilding Korea Party Spokesperson: There is a precedent. During the Park Geun-hye government corruption scandal, a parliamentary investigation and an independent counsel for impeachment were conducted simultaneously. There is no reason we cannot do it this time as well. We believe it is not appropriate to delay introducing the impeachment motion until after the parliamentary investigation.]

People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig criticized on his social media today, saying, "The Democratic Party will try to inflict all kinds of insults and humiliation on Chief Justice Cho in front of the public through live TV broadcasts," calling it "a very persistent and vicious violence."

Chief Justice Cho remained tight-lipped regarding the unprecedented parliamentary investigation into a sitting chief justice.

[Cho Hee-dae / Chief Justice: (Please share your position on the push for a parliamentary investigation.) "......"]

The Democratic Party announced that it will submit a request for a parliamentary investigation to the plenary session of the National Assembly on November 5, so the actual parliamentary investigation is expected to begin as early as early December.

(Video by Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Park Seon-soo)