South Korean opposition leader demands chief justice's resignation, orders nationwide banners

Kim Min-seok, the newly elected leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, has launched a nationwide campaign demanding the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. Kim's first directive after appointing a new publicity chief was to have two banners hung across the country. One banner reads, "Let's open a golden era of democracy," while the other states, "Cho Hee-dae, who destroys the rule of law, must step down."

This move escalates the conflict between the ruling party and the Supreme Court over the nomination of a new justice. Kim had previously publicly called for Cho's immediate resignation, accusing him of "wicked acts" in front of the public. Some within the Democratic Party are now discussing the impeachment of the chief justice.

Following his election as party leader, Kim has spoken about his ambition to be a "kingmaker" rather than a presidential candidate. He visited the grave of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, whom he described as a strategist who "made the game" and followed the principle of prioritizing the party over personal gain. Kim aims to build a framework for the Democratic Party's continuous rule, envisioning a "golden era" for the party over the next 20 to 30 years, not just winning the upcoming general election.