Gangwon Civic Group Urges Democratic Party to Impeach Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae

Civic groups in South Korea's Gangwon Province are calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, holding him responsible for a ballot shortage during the recent local elections.

The group, Gangwon Candlelight Action, held a press conference outside the Democratic Party's provincial headquarters in Chuncheon, demanding that the party submit an impeachment motion to the National Assembly. They argued that Cho, as the effective overseer of the National Election Commission, is responsible for the infringement of citizens' right to vote due to the ballot shortage.

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The National Election Commission provided prey for the extreme right-wing to riot. And the person who effectively oversees the Election Commission, which infringed upon the people's right to vote due to the ballot shortage in this local election, is Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.

The activists pointed to Cho's decisions, such as keeping Noh Tae-ak as the head of the National Election Commission despite his term as a Supreme Court justice having ended, and appointing Oh Min-seok, who was involved in the ballot shortage issue, as the head of the Seoul Election Commission. They also suggested Cho's past actions in a case involving Lee Jae-myung indicated a potential for interference in elections.

Gangwon Candlelight Action reminded that over 112 lawmakers had signed a motion to impeach Cho in March, with a majority of Democratic Party members participating. They questioned the party's delay in submitting the motion and urged them to make it a party resolution and put it to a vote. The group believes Cho's continued presence in his position is the reason for these electoral issues.

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The Democratic Party should make Cho Hee-dae's impeachment a party resolution and submit it to the plenary session.