No Jeong-hee, "Difficult to Agree" with Suspicions of Political Neutrality

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Candidate No Jeong-hee for the Central Election Commission stated on the 27th that her activities in the Uri Law Research Association do not affect her political neutrality.

At the National Assembly confirmation hearing that day, in response to a question from Park Wan-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "What do you think about the claim that your political neutrality is questionable due to your activities in the Uri Law Research Association and the Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun)?", Candidate No said, "I find it difficult to agree."

When asked if she felt ashamed of her activities in the Uri Law Research Association and Minbyun, Candidate No replied, "No, not at all." When asked to describe the Uri Law Research Association in one word, she said, "I think it was an academic research organization."

Candidate No said, "I attended a few seminars around the time I was a junior judge, but after starting my law practice, I was not able to participate actively." When some issues were raised about the Uri Law Research Association from the mid-2000s, she added, "I thought it was not appropriate to keep my membership as it was, so I withdrew."

The ruling and opposition parties were sharply divided over Candidate No's political neutrality. Han Byung-do, a Democratic Party member, said, "Isn't it problematic to politically label the Uri Law Research Association, which is an academic group? Evaluating the judiciary from left or right itself is a very dangerous idea." Park also said, "(The media) is framing Uri Law Research Association members as not maintaining political neutrality," and questioned, "Can progressive judges be evaluated as not maintaining neutrality?"

On the other hand, Park Wan-soo of the People Power Party argued that "If Candidate No becomes the chairperson of the Election Commission, three of the five key figures, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, will be from the Uri Law Research Association," calling it a serious problem. Kwon Young-se, also from the People Power Party, criticized Candidate No for supporting the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in acquitting Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Candidate No stated, "I find it difficult to agree with categorizing Supreme Court justices as conservative or progressive by a single standard. While I may be considered progressive in areas where it is necessary to actively interpret laws to protect socially vulnerable or minority groups, in other aspects, I regard legal literature as an important interpretive criterion."

The current chairperson of the Central Election Commission is appointed by election among the commissioners, usually from Supreme Court justices. If Candidate No passes the confirmation hearing, she will become the first female chairperson of the Central Election Commission.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.