Justice chief refutes allegations of connivance concerning Lee Jae Myung's convictiondecision
In the heart of South Korea's political landscape, a storm of controversy has been brewing around Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de. The demand for his resignation stems from perceptions of politically biased court decisions and accusations of undermining judicial independence.
The liberal ruling bloc, which has been pushing for Jo's removal, has been met with opposition from the conservative People Power Party. They argue that the call for Jo's removal is an attempt to weaken the power of the judicial branch.
The controversy took a significant turn when court proceedings against President Lee Jae Myung were halted, shortly after his inauguration. The halting of these proceedings occurred following Lee's victory in the June presidential election.
The allegations against Chief Justice Jo Hee-de involve speculations about his meeting with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to discuss handling President Lee's case concerning his violation of the Public Official Election Act. However, Chief Justice Jo has vehemently denied colluding with Han to make President Lee ineligible to run for president.
In a statement released through the Supreme Court, Jo stated that he never discussed anything with anyone outside the court regarding the criminal case. This denial comes as a response to the speculations about Jo's involvement in President Lee's case.
The statement was the first released by the judicial branch since the liberal ruling bloc increased pressure for Jo's removal. The Supreme Court, as the highest judicial body in South Korea, is the center of a significant political issue, with both major parties having contrasting views on the matter.
In May, the Supreme Court handed down a 10-2 ruling, finding President Lee guilty of making false claims with the intention to win the 2022 presidential election. This ruling, however, was not the final verdict, as the case is still under appeal.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has been urging Jo Hee-de to resign from his post. They denounce the ruling as an attempt to collude with the conservative bloc during the campaigning period to remove the strongest presidential candidate from the race.
It is important to note that a district court had initially handed down a suspended sentence to Lee, but a high court later acquitted him of the crime. The denial made public by the Supreme Court does not confirm or deny any meetings between Jo and Han, but it does state that no discussions about the criminal case occurred outside the court.
The conservative People Power Party supports the judicial branch and opposes Jo's removal. The political circles in South Korea continue to watch this unfolding drama with bated breath, as the future of the Supreme Court and the political landscape of the country hangs in the balance.
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