Seo Young-kyo, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea who chairs the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, on the 24th addressed Chief Justice Jo Hee-de, saying, "Aren't things awkward between us these days?" and added, "You need to carry the weight of that position more truthfully."
Seo attended the opening ceremony of the "34th Lawyers' Conference for the Rule of Law and 93rd Lawyers' Training Session," hosted by the Korean Bar Association at The Lotte Grand in Jung-gu, Seoul, and said this in congratulatory remarks.
Earlier, Chief Justice Jo recommended Senior Judge Son Bong-gi of the Daegu District Court and Senior Judge Kim Sung-su of the Seoul High Court to President Lee Jae-myung as candidates for new Supreme Court justices. After the Supreme Court finished consultations with the presidential office, the chief justice broke with the practice of meeting the president for an in-person recommendation and instead made a "written recommendation," prompting controversy in the ruling camp.
Seo argued in media interviews that "(the chief justice) should be impeached." The Legislation and Judiciary Committee decided to summon Chief Justice Jo on the 31st to question him on pending issues, saying it would ask about the written recommendation, among other matters.
Regarding the revised Criminal Procedure Act, which the ruling camp led and passed, Seo argued, "It is not that prosecutors do not conduct investigations; investigations that prosecutors used to handle were moved to the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency (Jung Sucheong). Prosecutors have gone to the Jung Sucheong."
She continued, "Then doesn't that mean the police will have unchecked power? That's what people say. No," adding, "When problems arise, the police are immediately arrested and punished. When prosecutors and police are involved in crimes, the Jung Sucheong has been made to investigate."
Chief Justice Jo delivered congratulatory remarks before Seo. Jo said, "The judiciary takes seriously the various concerns raised over recent changes in the judicial system," and added, "We will do our utmost so that the judicial system can be positioned solely for the people."
At the event, congratulatory remarks were delivered by President Lee Jae-myung, Chief Justice Jo, Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan, and Minister of the Ministry of Justice Jung Sung-ho. A representative read the remarks of President Lee and Minister Jung, while Chief Justice Jo and President Kim of the Constitutional Court attended the event.