PPP leader criticizes DP for advocating the unconstitutional departure of the chief justice
In the heart of South Korea's political landscape, a storm is brewing. The mounting criticism of Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de has reached a crescendo, with the Democratic Party calling for his resignation. The controversy began when allegations emerged that Jo made unfavourable remarks about President Lee, who was then the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, shortly before the June 3 election. Tensions further escalated, with Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, chair of the main opposition People Power Party, labeling the call for Jo's resignation as unconstitutional. The presidential office has no official stance on Jo's potential resignation but agrees that the allegations and his ability to fulfill his duties should be reviewed. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung explained that the National Assembly, as a body composed of lawmakers directly elected by the people, has the authority to raise such issues. The Democratic Party, however, is not seeking to impeach Jo at this time. Instead, they maintain that he should voluntarily step down. Rep. Moon Jin-seog, the Democratic Party's senior deputy representative for floor operations, made this clear. The minor progressive Rebuilding Korea Party has backed the call for a special investigation and has already drafted an impeachment motion against the chief justice. If the statement about Jo's alleged remark is true, it could reveal serious political partiality from the head of the judiciary, according to Rep. Boo Seung-chan of the Democratic Party. The alleged remark was made on April 7, three days after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. In response to the Democratic Party's push to establish a special tribunal, Jo has come under fire for recent remarks stressing judicial independence. Meanwhile, the proposed tribunal for trying those involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, would be led by judges recommended by the National Assembly, the judges' council, and the Korean Bar Association. The controversy has also seen the arrest warrant for Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the People Power Party over allegations of receiving political funds from the Unification Church. Jang denounced this arrest warrant, stating that in the current era, simply being in the opposition is treated as a crime. Following Jang's remarks, Democratic Party Chair Rep. Jung Chung-rae called for a special counsel investigation into Jo's alleged comments. The person who filed a request for a special investigation against Supreme Court Justice Cho Hee-dae is Choo Mi-ae, the chairperson of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea. As the situation unfolds, the future of South Korea's judiciary remains uncertain, with the Supreme Court Chief Justice at the centre of a political storm.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
