The Democratic Party of Korea urged Chief Justice Jo Hee-de to voluntarily withdraw the current Supreme Court justice nominees he has recommended. It said he should consult again with President Lee Jae-myung and recommend new Supreme Court justice candidates. It also said it would take follow-up measures if Chief Justice Jo does not withdraw them voluntarily.
Seo Young-kyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and Kim Seung-won, a Democratic Party lawmaker who serves as the ruling party secretary, said this after meeting with reporters on the 28th at the Incheon Inspire Hotel following a sub-session discussion by the judiciary committee during a workshop.
Kim said, "In the major reforms for people's livelihoods, judicial reform was a key topic, and there was discussion about whether it is right to maintain the current 'imperial chief justice' system," adding, "There was in-depth discussion on improving the system for recommending Supreme Court justice candidates, which has emerged as a pending issue, and the conclusion was that before the Court Organization Act is amended, Chief Justice Jo must voluntarily withdraw the current nominees he recommended without consultation."
She continued, "We reached the conclusion that, for the remaining nominees, it is right to consult with the president and recommend them again," adding, "If that does not happen, we will judge it a violation of the Court Organization Act and will proceed not only with summoning witnesses on the 31st but also with the next steps. There was also discussion that, if necessary, it is necessary to make the Court Organization Act more concrete and codified."
Earlier, Chief Justice Jo recommended Kim Sung-su, a senior judge at the Seoul High Court, and Son Bong-gi, a senior judge at the Daegu District Court, to succeed Supreme Court Justices Roh Tae-ak and Lee Heung-gu. However, the ruling camp objected, saying Senior Judge Son was recommended without consultation with President Lee Jae-myung.
Regarding the "fabricated indictment special counsel act" being pushed by the Democratic Party, she said, "It is right to launch a special counsel to uncover the facts of the fabricated indictment," but added, "As for the timing, we gathered opinions to decide it in consultation with the leadership. Since the special counsel's authority to drop indictments has not yet been officially discussed, we have collected opinions, but it is not the stage to say more."