Legislation and Judiciary Committee Tables Cho Hee-dae Special Prosecutor Act... Democratic Party Continues Pressure on Judiciary

May 14 Legislation and Judiciary Committee Plenary Session...
Constitutional Court Amendment and Others Tabled
Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae Absent from Hearing on Judicial Interference in Presidential Election

As Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is expected to be absent from the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s hearing on allegations of judicial interference in the presidential election, which is being led by the Democratic Party of Korea, the party continues to put pressure on the judiciary by introducing the Cho Hee-dae Special Prosecutor Act.

Yonhap News Agency

On May 14, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly held a plenary session and tabled the Special Prosecutor Act for the Investigation of Judicial Abuse, including the appointment of a special prosecutor for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae (the Cho Hee-dae Special Prosecutor Act). Other bills were also tabled, including an amendment to the Constitutional Court Act that would allow constitutional complaints against Supreme Court rulings, and an amendment to the Court Organization Act to increase the number of Supreme Court justices.

Kim Yongmin, the Democratic Party's Senior Deputy Floor Leader for Policy, said on 'SBS Kim Taehyun's Political Show' that while the Cho Hee-dae Special Prosecutor Act was not proposed as an official party platform, it is being taken seriously within the party. He added that the party leadership is determined to push strongly for both a special prosecutor and judicial reform.

However, the Democratic Party’s election campaign committee distanced itself from the bills tabled in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. This move is interpreted as an attempt to reduce the perceived connection with Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung. On the morning of May 14, Cho Seungrae, spokesperson for the campaign committee, stated, "The campaign committee has not issued any directives regarding the handling of these bills, and as far as I know, the legislative process is proceeding within the committee itself."

On the same day, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the Democratic Party, is also holding a hearing to investigate allegations of judicial interference in the presidential election involving Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and others in the judiciary. With Chief Justice Cho and the other 12 Supreme Court justices, as well as Supreme Court officials, having expressed their intention not to attend, it is reported that Seo Bohak, a professor at Kyung Hee University Law School, and Seo Seokho, an attorney known to have ties with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, are expected to attend.

Within the party, there are some voices suggesting that the timing of the pressure on the judiciary should be adjusted, but the prevailing opinion appears to be that such measures are necessary. Jeong Cheongrae, chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said on 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' that the Cho Hee-dae Special Prosecutor Act and the hearing should move forward. He explained, "There are a few people who have different opinions, but it is not fundamental opposition?rather, they are questioning whether it has to be done at this particular time. I believe the majority will agree with my view."

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