It was reported on the 17th that Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae would state his position on allegations recently raised in the ruling bloc.
On this day, the National Court Administration sent a text message to the press corps saying, "Regarding allegations raised by political circles, the chief justice will state his position on his way home at 6 p.m." Until now, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae has not expressed his position even as pressure from the ruling bloc for his resignation continued.
Cho Hee-dae's statement is expected to be a rebuttal to remarks made at the Democratic Party's supreme council meeting that day.
Jeong Cheong-rae, head of the Democratic Party, said at the supreme council meeting, "During the National Assembly's interpellation of the government yesterday, Rep. Boo Seung-chan raised shocking allegations," adding, "The special counsel for insurrection must investigate the allegations raised."
Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan said during the government interpellation on the 16th that "on Apr. 7, three days after the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former President Yoon Suk-yeol from office, we received a tip that Chief Justice Cho had lunch with Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister, and others." He added, "It is said that (at the lunch) Chief Justice Cho said, 'If the Lee Jae-myung case goes up to the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court will take care of it.'"
The "Lee Jae-myung case" mentioned by Rep. Boo appears to refer to the case in which the president received a remand decision with a guilty purport from the Supreme Court on May 1 for alleged election law violations. The Democratic Party has been pressuring Chief Justice Cho to resign in connection with the Supreme Court's decision with a guilty purport.
Jeong Cheong-rae said that day, "It is time for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to answer for himself," adding, "Chief Justice Cho appears highly unfit to continue performing the duties of chief justice."
In response, the legal community said there was talk that "the ruling bloc is improperly pressuring the chief justice with allegations whose basis is unknown." A senior presiding judge said, "The Democratic Party is raising allegations without presenting the source of the tip or any materials that could serve as grounds." A legal professional who previously served as a judge said, "As Chief Justice Cho did not back down despite the pressure to resign, it seems the Democratic Party is ratcheting up the pressure with allegations and calls for an investigation."
Meanwhile, an associate of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said, "Regardless of before or after the impeachment decision of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Mr. Han has never had a meeting or a meal with Chief Justice Cho and has no personal acquaintance whatsoever."