[Report] "Block Kim Myung-soo's Car" People Power Party Engages in Physical Clash in Front of the Supreme Court

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On the morning of the 23rd, in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the People Power Party's relay protest demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo is taking place, People Power Party lawmakers and police are engaged in a physical struggle blocking Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo's vehicle. / Photo by Park Joon-yi

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] "Stop Kim Myung-soo's car! Stop it!"

On the morning of the 23rd, the area in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the People Power Party's relay protest demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo was taking place, was in utter chaos. As Chief Justice Kim's vehicle entered the main gate, about ten lawmakers standing to block it threw themselves in front of the car. Physical scuffles with the police broke out in several places.

Two days before the 58th Law Day (on the 25th), more than twenty People Power Party lawmakers, including party leadership, gathered early in front of the Supreme Court main gate. Next to the site where lawmaker Kim Young-sik was conducting a solo protest, Joo Ho-young, acting party leader of the People Power Party, lawmakers from the party's Judiciary Committee, and Lee Jae-oh, head of the Emergency Situation Coalition, held a press conference demanding Chief Justice Kim's resignation.

On the morning of the 23rd, members of the People Power Party held a press conference in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where a relay protest demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo was taking place. / Photo by Park Joon-yi

At the press conference, Acting Leader Joo said, "The day after tomorrow, the 25th, is Law Day, a day to reaffirm the principles of the Constitution and the rule of law. We cannot help but feel deeply ashamed and dismayed," adding, "An unqualified person named Kim Myung-soo is sitting in the Supreme Court, engaging in all sorts of judicial administrative corruption, colluding with power, and breaking the principles of the rule of law and judicial independence."

Lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun also emphasized, "The reasons for Chief Justice Kim to resign are becoming increasingly clear, and I feel the public's will is becoming firmer." He then pointed at Chief Justice Kim, saying, "I hear Chief Justice Kim is coming soon, but it's already almost 9:15. Public officials should arrive by 9, so why is he coming late at will?"

Shortly after, as Chief Justice Kim's vehicle entered, a physical struggle broke out between lawmakers and police, prompting YouTubers and citizens to shout curses in an agitated voice. At the scene, slogans such as "Resign Kim Myung-soo! Arrest Kim Myung-soo!" echoed, and some scolded the police for blocking the lawmakers.

Then, taking advantage of the vehicle entering the gate, Acting Leader Joo and lawmakers Bae Hyun-jin, Yoon Hee-seok, and Bae Jun-young broke through the police defense and ran inside the fence. About ten minutes later, after discussions with the Supreme Court, the People Power Party allowed five lawmakers?Kim Ki-hyun, Yoo Sang-bum, Jung Jeom-sik, Park Hyung-soo, and Kwon Seong-dong?into the Supreme Court building.

On the morning of the 23rd, in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where a relay protest demanding the resignation of Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo is taking place, Joo Ho-young, the acting party leader, along with members of the People Power Party, are waiting for Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo's vehicle.

After talking with Chief Justice Kim, lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun met with reporters in front of the main gate and said, "I conveyed to him that he has long degraded the status of the judiciary and destroyed the authority of judges, which is the very authority to judge, through lies," adding, "I told him to take responsibility as the head and retire quickly."

When asked how Chief Justice Kim responded, he said, "He expressed regret about what has happened but said it is not something to resign over," elaborating, "He said measures are needed to expand the number of judges in the judiciary and improve the appellate system." He added, "When I told him he was unqualified to be Chief Justice, he asked if I was talking about judicial complaints. I reprimanded him, saying that Yoon Ho-jung, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, went to the National Cemetery, knelt, and apologized to the victims, so do you recognize your responsibility?"

Meanwhile, the People Power Party plans to continue demanding Chief Justice Kim's resignation. They also announced plans to publish a white paper in May detailing what they claim are Chief Justice Kim's faults and to send it to him to hear his position.

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