Passport Reformers Propose Bill to Move 'Supreme Court → Daegu' and 'Constitutional Court → Gwangju'... Also Request 'Supreme Prosecutors' Office → Sejong'

Hyuckeumhoe "Seocho-dong, The End of Their Own League"

Members of the 'Cheoreomhoe' group, formed by Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and Kim Nam-guk, member of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference on the 7th at the National Assembly Communication Office to urge the transfer and investigation of the 'Yoon Seok-yeol former Prosecutor General judge surveillance case.' Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Reform-minded lawmakers of the ruling party have proposed bills to relocate the Supreme Court to Daegu and the Constitutional Court to Gwangju. They also plan to recommend the relocation of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to Sejong City to the government. The intention is to physically move these institutions to decentralize judicial power and ensure separation from political power.

The "Action-oriented Lawmakers' Group Cheoreomhwe" announced on the 13th that they will jointly propose amendments to the Court Organization Act to move the Supreme Court to Daegu and to the Constitutional Court Act to move the Constitutional Court to Gwangju. Although the Supreme Prosecutors' Office proposed relocating to Sejong City, it is currently determined by presidential decree, so they plan to actively request President Moon Jae-in to consider this.

Cheoreomhwe includes Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Nam-guk, Kim Seung-won, Kim Yong-min, Moon Jeong-bok, Min Byung-duk, Min Hyung-bae, Yoon Young-duk, Lee Soo-jin, Jang Kyung-tae, Choi Hye-young, Hong Jeong-min, Han Jun-ho, and Hwang Un-ha.

Cheoreomhwe stated, "You may recall the judicial scandal during the previous administration. The judiciary and the Blue House met frequently, disregarding the people, making deals to preserve their own power and infringing on citizens' fundamental rights." They added, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office are located just across the street from each other, allowing the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to constantly interfere in the Central District Prosecutors' investigations. It is time to end the exclusive league in Seocho-dong."

They continued, "In judicially advanced countries like Germany, the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court are not located in the capital but are dispersed nationwide. Through the separation of judicial and political powers, they achieve practical separation of powers. We will start in the same way."

Cheoreomhwe said, "We will disperse judicial power and place it at a physical and psychological distance from political power. Dividing into three locations and increasing the distance will secure greater political neutrality, independence, and fairness."

Regarding Daegu, they said, "It is a city of patriotism that produced the most independence activists and initiated the April 19 Revolution. Relocating the Supreme Court to Daegu will have the effect of rediscovering this historical significance." About Gwangju, they said, "It is the sacred place of the May 18 Democratic Uprising that gave birth to the 1987 constitutional system. Moving the Constitutional Court to Gwangju will be an opportunity to fully inherit and complete the unfinished spirit of May 18 Gwangju."

Cheoreomhwe also stated, "Having the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, an external agency of the executive branch, located in Sejong City alongside other ministries will help the prosecution return to its original role as public servants serving the people. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office must be reborn as a civil servant organization responsible only for policy functions."

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