Ruling party slams opposition over chief justice resignation calls, impeachment threats

The People Power Party fiercely criticized the Democratic Party on Monday for demanding the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. The ruling party asserted that the "Blue House passing" controversy, which arose during Cho's nomination of Supreme Court justices, was a baseless accusation manufactured by the opposition.

Park Hyeong-soo, a People Power Party lawmaker, stated at a party meeting that the Democratic Party reacted with outrage when Cho submitted two Supreme Court justice candidates on July 18. He specifically cited Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok's harsh criticism of Cho, calling him the "worst chief justice" and "worst legal technician" since liberation, and demanding his resignation.

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If he doesn't nominate, it's dereliction of duty; if he nominates, it's passing. So what should the chief justice do? Ultimately, they want him to nominate candidates the Blue House desires. What kind of strong-arm tactic is this? Is the Democratic Party a political gangster?

Park countered the "Blue House passing" narrative by highlighting that Court Administration Chief Roh Kyung-pil stated the chief justice requested a meeting with the president, but the Blue House did not grant it. Furthermore, Park claimed that the method of submitting candidates in writing was agreed upon with the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs. "The chief justice requested the meeting, and the president refused it, yet they call it Blue House passing?" Park questioned. "They agreed to a written submission with the Blue House, yet they claim it's passing because it wasn't a face-to-face submission?"

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The chief justice requested the meeting, and the president refused it, yet they call it Blue House passing? They agreed to a written submission with the Blue House, yet they claim it's passing because it wasn't a face-to-face submission?

The lawmaker also pointed out the Democratic Party's contradictory stance, recalling their statement just four days prior that delaying the nomination of Supreme Court justices constituted dereliction of duty and urged an immediate submission. "If he doesn't nominate, it's dereliction of duty; if he nominates, it's passing. So what should the chief justice do?" Park asked. "Ultimately, they want him to nominate candidates the Blue House desires. What kind of strong-arm tactic is this? Is the Democratic Party a political gangster?"

Park emphasized that the chief justice's right to recommend Supreme Court justices is a constitutional authority. He argued that demanding resignation and impeachment for exercising this constitutional right is blackmail and an abuse of power, infringing upon the independence and political neutrality of the judiciary, and is itself unconstitutional. He also criticized reports of the Blue House intending to reject the nomination of Judge Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court, calling it an "outrageous act" that twists a customary practice of prior consultation into a de facto approval requirement, despite no legal basis for such a requirement.

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The chief justice's right to recommend Supreme Court justices is a constitutional authority. This kind of blackmail and abuse of power, infringing upon the independence and political neutrality of the judiciary, is itself unconstitutional.

Concluding his remarks, Park urged President Lee Jae-myung to immediately submit the appointment confirmation bill to the National Assembly, stating that the five-month judicial vacancy and trial delays can no longer be tolerated. He also called on the Democratic Party to cease their resignation demands and impeachment threats against the chief justice, questioning how exercising a constitutional right could be grounds for impeachment. Park vowed that the People Power Party would not tolerate any attempt by President Lee to unilaterally select the two Supreme Court justices who will ultimately rule on his own trial.

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The Blue House intending to reject the nomination of Judge Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court, based on prior consultation, is an outrageous act that twists a customary practice into a de facto approval requirement, despite no legal basis.