The Democratic Party has urged Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to stop actions that undermine the foundation of South Korea and to resign amid controversy over his sudden written request for Supreme Court justice candidates.
Spokesperson Lee Yong-woo stated in a briefing that Cho announced he would not attend the National Assembly's Legislative Judiciary Committee meeting scheduled for the 31st.
Lee added, "The claim that being summoned by the National Assembly for the exercise of the appointment authority of Supreme Court justices contradicts the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary reflects a dismal understanding of the Constitution and the National Assembly."
He emphasized, "The National Assembly Act explicitly includes the Chief Justice as a subject of attendance requests. It is also possible to summon the Chief Justice as a witness under the National Assembly Witness and Appraisal Act, and non-attendance by a witness is subject to penalties, with the Chief Justice not being an exception."
Furthermore, he stated, "Chief Justice Cho is disregarding the authority of the National Assembly based on a complete misinterpretation of the separation of powers," adding that Cho's notion of judicial independence is merely a guarantee of 'sanctuary' and nothing more.
Lee criticized Cho for infringing on the President's authority through unilateral exercise of appointment power and now attempting to undermine the National Assembly's authority with his refusal to attend, stating, "Chief Justice Cho's reckless actions are shaking the foundations of the judiciary and South Korea. He no longer qualifies to lead the judiciary. He must resign immediately."
Meanwhile, the Blue House has requested a re-nomination for Supreme Court Justice candidate Son Bong-ki, escalating tensions between the ruling and opposition parties.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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