Ruling party official: Opposition's push to impeach Chief Justice signals President Lee's impeachment grounds

A senior official from the ruling People Power Party has accused the main opposition party of orchestrating a move to impeach the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, alleging it is a politically motivated maneuver aimed at influencing President Lee's ongoing legal proceedings.

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The reason why President Lee went all out to ensure Kim Min-seok's appointment as party leader through all sorts of unreasonable measures is clearly shown.

Jang Dong-hyuk, the party's leader, stated that the Democratic Party's call for the resignation of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae clearly demonstrates why President Lee "went all out" to ensure Kim Min-seok's appointment as party leader through "all sorts of unreasonable measures." Jang asserted that if the Chief Justice faces impeachment for failing to appoint justices who align with the president's preferences, it would constitute clear grounds for impeaching President Lee himself.

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If the Chief Justice is mentioned for impeachment because the president's desired Supreme Court justices were not appointed, this is clearly grounds for President Lee's impeachment.

During a supreme council meeting, Jang emphasized that the Chief Justice's authority to recommend Supreme Court justices is a critical mechanism designed to safeguard judicial independence. He argued that if the president usurps this power to appoint judges favorable to his own interests, especially if the ultimate goal is to secure an acquittal in his own trial, such actions would represent a "clearly unconstitutional act."

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The Chief Justice recommending Supreme Court justices is an important system established to protect the independence of the judiciary.

Jang further contended that if Chief Justice Cho and the judiciary are resolute in defending their independence, they should immediately resume President Lee's five ongoing trials. He stressed that restarting the president's legal cases without delay is essential for upholding the integrity of the judicial system.

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If the president takes away this authority and infringes upon the independence of the judiciary, appointing people to the president's taste, and the final destination is the president's acquittal, this is clearly an unconstitutional act.