Kim Min-seok of the Democratic Party of Korea, in the first supreme council meeting he chaired, took issue with Chief Justice Jo Hee-de's written recommendation of Supreme Court justices. He carried over to his first leadership meeting the "impeach and resign Jo Hee-de" push he had advocated during the party convention. Kim signaled a broad "judicial reform," with the resignation of Chief Justice Jo as the connecting link.
At an on-site leadership meeting held in Busan on the 19th, Kim said, "Jo Hee-de is no longer the chief justice but a 'master of legal tricks,'" adding, "All this time, he selectively delayed the appointment of justices and engaged in unlawful behavior, and recently violated the spirit of the law again through expediency."
Regarding Chief Justice Jo's written recommendation of justices to President Lee Jae-myung, Kim said, "It's the attitude of a delinquent student who, after breaking a window, begs to be expelled and says he won't study," and added, "What was the intent in violating customary legal procedures all this time and then recommending justices this time? Are you asking to be fired?"
He went on, "What Chief Justice Jo is doing is committing yet another legal wrong to cover up every legal, political and public wrong he has committed so far," adding, "Jo Hee-de, the worst chief justice since liberation, should step down."
Kim also said, "Watching the situation with Chief Justice Jo reminded me of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. He caused trouble because he wanted to run for president and begged to be impeached," adding, "Why is Chief Justice Jo trying to follow the path of an accomplice to insurrection like Han Duck-soo? Why volunteer for a shameful path?"
He continued, "I call on (judges) to issue a statement saying Chief Justice Jo did wrong. Convene a judges' meeting immediately and resolve to have Jo Hee-de resign," adding, "We will use Chief Justice Jo's judicial manipulation as an opportunity to begin judicial reform."
In his first meeting, Kim ordered tighter security for the leadership body. He warned, "The leadership, which decides on various matters, has mostly been closed to the press, but if necessary we will in principle open it," adding, "If confidential matters are disclosed, regardless of rank or position, the person will be expelled from the meeting."
He added, "In this party convention, the livelihood-first, pragmatic, and expansion line I advocated won overwhelming support from dues-paying members and delegates," and said, "We will push the party's direction with consistency and become a leadership that eliminates the gap between the party's sentiment and public sentiment."