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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Democratic Party: 'Cho Hee-dae has become a political player... Resign immediately'

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The main opposition Democratic Party called for the immediate resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
  • The party accused Cho of becoming a political player and misunderstanding the democratic system by delaying the nomination of new justices.
  • They argue his actions have undermined judicial integrity and that resignation is the only way to atone.

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party has demanded the immediate resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, accusing him of engaging in political maneuvering and undermining the judiciary.

Cho Hee-dae has already become a political player.

— Park Sung-joonDemocratic Party spokesperson accusing the Chief Justice of political involvement.

Park Sung-joon, the party's senior spokesperson, stated that Cho has "degenerated into a 'Chief Justice of the Century'" and "thrown away the dignity befitting the head of the judiciary." The party insists that resignation is the "only path to atone" for the damage to judicial justice and the public.

The criticism stems from Cho's delay in recommending candidates for the Supreme Court after the retirement of Justice Noh Tae-ak in March. After a five-month delay, Cho abruptly nominated two candidates on August 18, breaking with tradition by submitting the nominations in writing to President Yoon Suk Yeol. The Democratic Party views this as a misunderstanding of the democratic system, arguing that the Chief Justice's nomination power is not an appointment power.

He has thrown away the dignity befitting the head of the judiciary and degenerated into a 'Chief Justice of the Century.'

— Park Sung-joonDemocratic Party spokesperson criticizing Cho Hee-dae's conduct.

"The judiciary has the authority to recommend Supreme Court justices, and the president, elected by the people, has the final appointment power, while the National Assembly members, chosen by the people, have the consent power," Park explained. "This is to stabilize the democratic system."

Resignation is the only path to atone for the collapsed judicial justice and before the people.

— Park Sung-joonDemocratic Party spokesperson demanding Cho Hee-dae's resignation.

Regarding the possibility of impeaching Cho, the party suggested he has "sufficient qualifications for impeachment." However, they also stated that the judiciary itself should address the issues surrounding the Chief Justice. Discussions on abolishing the Court Administration Office, a reform proposed by Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, were deemed premature.

The Chief Justice mistakes the right to recommend candidates for the appointment right, misunderstanding the democratic system.

— Park Sung-joonDemocratic Party spokesperson criticizing Cho Hee-dae's understanding of judicial powers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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