With regard to pressure from the ruling camp for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to resign, the court's internal communication network (CourtNet), where front-line judges communicate, has been quiet. However, it was learned on the 16th that among judges there are voices pushing back, calling it an infringement on judicial independence.
Chu Mi-ae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea and chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, posted on Facebook on the 13th calling for Chief Justice Cho to step down. Then Democratic Party leadership, including Representative Jeong Cheong-rae, also demanded the chief justice's resignation. The presidential office on the 15th said it "agrees in principle," but after controversy arose, it stepped back, calling it an "overinterpretation." The presidential office also said that day, "We have neither discussed nor planned the chief justice's future." Chief Justice Cho and the Supreme Court have not issued separate statements.
In this situation, only one post was uploaded to the CourtNet board by an incumbent judge under a real name. Jeong Uk-do, a senior judge at the Uijeongbu District Court, wrote under the title "I will not become a tribe member," saying, "Judicial independence must of course be protected. It is also true that now is the time to assert independence," but added, "Is the judiciary truly a pure and blameless victim unilaterally threatened in its independence?"
There was only one comment on the post. Song Gyeong-geun, a senior judge at the Cheongju District Court, wrote in the comment, "If we are to speak of 'judicial independence,' shouldn't we first mention a sincere apology for the actions that triggered this wave of reform—namely, the series of acts that led many citizens to harbor strong doubts about the 'just and independent judiciary of the people'—and measures to prevent a recurrence?"
Inside the courts, however, there is a growing mood of pushback against the Democratic Party's offensive toward Chief Justice Cho.
An incumbent judge said, "It is obviously unconstitutional for the Democratic Party to pressure Chief Justice Cho to resign," adding, "The separation of powers in the Constitution exists so that coequal branches keep each other in check, and the notion that one pillar is superior makes no sense." The judge continued, "If they did not have a specific trial in mind, would they have gone this far?" and said, "Don't they want to fill the seats with people who suit their taste?"
A senior judge at a court in the Seoul metropolitan area said, "On 'judicial independence,' there is a sense that the position issued at the recent National Court Presidents' Conference already reflects the views of front-line judges." Earlier, on the 12th, the National Court Presidents' Conference held more than seven hours of meetings on the "judicial reform" being pursued by the government and ruling party and stated, "Judicial independence must be guaranteed to protect the basic rights of the people and realize the rule of law."
An attorney who formerly served as a senior judge said, "Judges are greatly concerned about this situation," adding, "Among not only incumbent judges but also former judges, the dominant response is that calls for the chief justice's resignation based on a logic that places 'elected power' above others are inappropriate and inconsistent with the Constitution's separation of powers."