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Dispute Over Judicial Appointment
South Korea’s governing Democratic Party and opposition People Power Party traded accusations Thursday over Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s refusal to resubmit Supreme Court nominee Sohn Bong-ki.
The presidential office had requested a new submission, arguing that the process used to recommend Sohn was inadequate. Cho rejected that request, saying it was difficult to accept the claim that the process contained a procedural defect.
Democrats Accuse Cho of Political Conduct
Democratic Party spokesperson Park Sung-joon accused Cho of damaging the judiciary and aligning himself with outside political forces. Park questioned whether the Supreme Court was being guided by the Constitution and judicial conscience or by political interests.
Another party spokesperson, Sohn Myung-soo, linked the dispute to the Supreme Court’s decision shortly before the presidential election to send back a case involving then-candidate Lee Jae-myung after reviewing it for nine days. He accused Cho of engaging in politics while wearing judicial robes.
Sohn also said a Supreme Court seat has remained vacant for more than 200 days, arguing that the public will ultimately bear the cost if the standoff continues.
Opposition Warns of Threat to Judicial Independence
People Power Party spokesperson Park Sung-hoon said the request to resubmit the nominee lacked a clear constitutional basis. He accused the Democratic Party of pressuring Cho with the prospect of a parliamentary investigation, a special counsel inquiry and cuts to the Supreme Court’s budget.
Park called on the governing party to stop intimidating the judiciary, arguing that a constitutional institution should not become the target of political attacks simply because it reached a decision that differed from the administration’s position.
People Power Party floor spokesperson Choi Soo-jin also criticized proposals for another special investigative body. She described them as an effort to bring the judiciary under political control after Cho exercised his constitutional judgment in rejecting the resubmission request.
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