Jeong Cheongrae Says, "If Even the President Can Be Replaced, What Does the Chief Justice Have to Say?"

Supreme Court Opposes Bill to Establish Dedicated Court for Rebellion Cases
Jeong Cheongrae Posts Criticism Targeting Chief Justice Cho Heedae on Social Media

The Supreme Court has effectively expressed opposition to the bill proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea's Special Committee for the Three Major Special Prosecutions (Rebellion, Kim Keonhee, and the death of Private Chae) to establish a dedicated court for rebellion cases. In response, Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae posted on his social media, "If even the president can be replaced, what does the Chief Justice have to say?" This remark was directed at Chief Justice Cho Heedae, the current head of the judiciary.

Jung Chungrae, Leader of the Democratic Party of Korea

On the 23rd, the first subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly reviewed the bill to establish a dedicated court for the three major special prosecution cases-rebellion, Kim Keonhee, and the death of a Marine in the line of duty-but failed to reach a conclusion. The bill, submitted by the Democratic Party's Special Committee for the Three Major Special Prosecutions on the 18th, centers on assigning these cases to a dedicated court for rebellion at the Seoul Central District Court. It also stipulates that if the candidate recommendation committee nominates a single candidate, the Chief Justice must appoint that candidate within one week.

Fierce Debate in the National Assembly Over the Establishment of a Dedicated Court for Rebellion Cases

The candidate recommendation committee would be composed of members recommended by the Ministry of Justice (1), the court (4), and the Korean Bar Association (4), excluding any appointees from the National Assembly. On this day, it was reported that Democratic Party and People Power Party lawmakers engaged in heated debate over the issue of establishing a dedicated court for rebellion cases. In particular, the People Power Party opposed the very establishment of such a court, raising concerns about its constitutionality, while the Democratic Party argued that Article 102, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the organization of the courts should be determined by law, provides a legal basis and thus the bill is not unconstitutional.

On the 11th, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly, the partial amendment bill to the Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors for the Investigation of Treason and Foreign Exchange Acts by Former President Yoon Seokyeol and Others (alternative bill) was passed.

Later that night, around 11 p.m., Jeong Cheongrae posted on his social media, "Our people ousted President Syngman Rhee, fought against Park Chunghee's Yushin dictatorship, sent Chun Doohwan and Roh Taewoo to prison for the Gwangju Massacre, imprisoned Lee Myungbak for corruption and irregularities, impeached Park Geunhye for state affairs manipulation, and impeached Yoon Seokyeol for rebellion. If even the president can be replaced, what does the Chief Justice have to say?" This post sparked controversy.

Previously, Democratic Party lawmakers Park Chandae and Lee Sungyun each sponsored bills: one for a special law on rebellion including the establishment of a dedicated court, and another for the establishment of a dedicated court for the three major special prosecution cases-rebellion, Kim Keonhee, and the death of a Marine in the line of duty. Both bills focus on creating a separate court to exclusively handle the cases under investigation by the special prosecutors. Kim Yongmin, chair of the first subcommittee for bill review, explained, "Since both bills have been introduced, the Democratic Party will need to decide internally which one to proceed with. We will coordinate with the party leadership to organize and schedule the bill's processing."

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