The Democratic Party replaces Supreme Court Chief Justice Nomination Committee Chair Kim Do-eup with Joo Ho-young

Ruling Party: "Judiciary Chief Vacancy Must Be Resolved Quickly"
Opposition: "Legislative Judiciary Committee Deadlock Paralyzes National Assembly, Kim Do-eup Must Step Down"

On the 4th, the People Power Party replaced Rep. Joo Ho-young, a five-term senior member of the party, as the chairman of the parliamentary personnel hearing committee to vet Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Cho Hee-dae. This change came after the Democratic Party demanded the replacement of Kim Do-eup, the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee who initially chaired the hearing, holding him responsible for the committee's disruption.

On the same day, Jeon Ju-hye, the People Power Party's floor spokesperson, stated at a National Assembly briefing, "To promptly resolve the public demand for filling the vacancy at the head of the judiciary, we have magnanimously accepted the Democratic Party's request related to the Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee's personnel hearing."

On the 29th, as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's plenary session was adjourned at the National Assembly, Chairman Kim Do-eup and ruling party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik were leaving the meeting room. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

This replacement was a sudden acceptance of the Democratic Party's demand. Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, said at the party's highest council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "If Rep. Kim does not resign from the chairmanship of the personnel hearing committee for Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Cho Hee-dae, tomorrow's hearing cannot proceed normally," and demanded, "The ruling party must propose a new hearing committee chairman by 3 p.m. today."

This was due to the disruption of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which caused the plenary session scheduled for the 23rd of last month to be canceled. Previously, the ruling and opposition parties planned to hold a plenary session on the 23rd, but the session was canceled because the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting held on the 22nd was disrupted due to confrontation between the parties, preventing the passage of bills to be presented at the plenary session.

Earlier, on the 24th of last month, Hong criticized at the highest council meeting, "We cannot overlook the constitutional disorder caused by the disruption of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee that paralyzed the National Assembly," adding, "The chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee has the duty to promptly review bills, but exercising authority as if equal to the Speaker of the National Assembly and blocking the passage of bills to cancel the plenary session is unacceptable."

The personnel hearing for Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Cho Hee-dae is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. on the 5th.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party also decided to establish a so-called '2+2 agreement body,' where the policy committee chairman and the senior deputy floor leader will discuss next year's budget bill. Rep. Jeon said, "The timing of the first meeting will be decided through consultation between the two parties, and I think a concrete meeting schedule will be set soon."

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