Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party on August 19 for questioning Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's authority to nominate justices, stating, "The Chief Justice's power to nominate justices is a core authority for judicial independence."
In a Facebook post, Jang responded to claims from the Democratic Party that the nomination process was not coordinated with the presidential office, labeling it as a case of "presidential bypass." He emphasized, "If there is prior communication and coordination with anyone, it contradicts the constitutional intent of the Chief Justice's inherent authority for judicial independence."
Jang condemned the Democratic Party's assertion that prior coordination with the presidential office is customary, saying, "Isn't it right to break improper customs? The Democratic Party, which has repeatedly undermined legitimate practices, has no grounds to speak on this matter." He further urged that "the judiciary must protect its own independence," calling for the resumption of President Lee's trial to restore the judiciary's integrity.
The People Power Party also strongly opposed the Democratic Party's push for impeachment against Chief Justice Cho. Jang warned, "Try it once. The public will surely impeach this administration."
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik added, "If breaking customs is grounds for impeachment, then all Democratic Party lawmakers are subject to impeachment." He criticized the Democratic Party for attempting to intimidate Chief Justice Cho in line with the presidential office's wishes, stating that such actions would destroy the last taboo of the separation of powers.
Jeong also claimed that it is the Democratic Party that has trampled on all parliamentary customs, questioning whether it was customary to confine Chief Justice Cho in the Legislative Judiciary Committee meeting for 90 minutes.
He noted, "The Chief Justice exercised his authority to nominate justices based on the law that states the Chief Justice nominates justices, who then go through the National Assembly's confirmation process before being appointed by the president," and pointed out that the intent behind the Democratic Party's intimidation of Chief Justice Cho is to seize control of the Supreme Court to eliminate President Lee's trial.
Jeong urged Chief Justice Cho not to yield to threats of power and to actively exercise his legal authority as Chief Justice. He also reiterated the need to resume President Lee's trial.
Park Chung-kwon, the party's chief spokesperson, commented, "Behind the Democratic Party's unreasonable offensive lies a sinister intention to control the judiciary and extract rulings that suit their interests," urging an end to the intimidation of the judiciary and talk of impeaching the Chief Justice.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Cho nominated judges Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court and Kim Seong-soo of the Seoul High Court as candidates for new justices the day before.
In a Facebook post, Jang responded to claims from the Democratic Party that the nomination process was not coordinated with the presidential office, labeling it as a case of "presidential bypass." He emphasized, "If there is prior communication and coordination with anyone, it contradicts the constitutional intent of the Chief Justice's inherent authority for judicial independence."
Jang condemned the Democratic Party's assertion that prior coordination with the presidential office is customary, saying, "Isn't it right to break improper customs? The Democratic Party, which has repeatedly undermined legitimate practices, has no grounds to speak on this matter." He further urged that "the judiciary must protect its own independence," calling for the resumption of President Lee's trial to restore the judiciary's integrity.
The People Power Party also strongly opposed the Democratic Party's push for impeachment against Chief Justice Cho. Jang warned, "Try it once. The public will surely impeach this administration."
Floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik added, "If breaking customs is grounds for impeachment, then all Democratic Party lawmakers are subject to impeachment." He criticized the Democratic Party for attempting to intimidate Chief Justice Cho in line with the presidential office's wishes, stating that such actions would destroy the last taboo of the separation of powers.
Jeong also claimed that it is the Democratic Party that has trampled on all parliamentary customs, questioning whether it was customary to confine Chief Justice Cho in the Legislative Judiciary Committee meeting for 90 minutes.
He noted, "The Chief Justice exercised his authority to nominate justices based on the law that states the Chief Justice nominates justices, who then go through the National Assembly's confirmation process before being appointed by the president," and pointed out that the intent behind the Democratic Party's intimidation of Chief Justice Cho is to seize control of the Supreme Court to eliminate President Lee's trial.
Jeong urged Chief Justice Cho not to yield to threats of power and to actively exercise his legal authority as Chief Justice. He also reiterated the need to resume President Lee's trial.
Park Chung-kwon, the party's chief spokesperson, commented, "Behind the Democratic Party's unreasonable offensive lies a sinister intention to control the judiciary and extract rulings that suit their interests," urging an end to the intimidation of the judiciary and talk of impeaching the Chief Justice.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Cho nominated judges Son Bong-ki of the Daegu District Court and Kim Seong-soo of the Seoul High Court as candidates for new justices the day before.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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