Kim Min-seok Targets Cho Hee-dae: “Embers of an Insurrection... National Assembly Investigation and Special Counsel Also Possible”

[Financial News] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, strongly criticized Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on the 23rd for refusing Cheong Wa Dae’s request to re-recommend a Supreme Court justice candidate, saying that the decision had “an inherently insurrectionary nature.” He avoided a direct answer on the possibility of impeaching Cho, but left open potential responses such as a National Assembly investigation and a special counsel.
Kim appeared that day on “Minti07,” a live broadcast on the Democratic Party TV YouTube channel, and said, “Whether it was the Supreme Court’s apparent failure to take a clear position during martial law and its seeming alignment with the insurrectionist forces, or its subsequent attempt to effectively kill then-presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung politically, this is part of the same continuum. It is now trying to ignore the Constitution and trample on the people’s rights.”
He was linking the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn and remand then-candidate Lee Jae Myung’s case involving violations of the Public Official Election Act in a manner indicating guilt, about a month before last year’s June 3 presidential election, with its refusal this time to make a new recommendation.
Kim claimed, “There has never been a case in which a chief justice ignored the Constitution and the law in this way and played power-struggle games with the president.” He called it “the dying embers of an unprecedented insurrection.” He added, “As the isolated, final holdout of the already suppressed insurrectionist forces, this outburst can only be brought to an end.”
He also raised allegations concerning Cho’s use of official operating expenses. Kim claimed, “It actually constitutes a breach of trust,” adding, “He is causing constitutional damage while already in a state of lacking the moral qualifications for the position.”
However, Kim took a cautious stance on calls from some in the ruling camp to impeach Cho. “We have a clear understanding of the substance of the matter,” he said, while adding, “Because the process of helping the public understand, explaining the issue, and persuading them is also extremely important, we will proceed through those steps carefully.”
He continued, “That process could include various inquiries in the National Assembly and a parliamentary investigation. Depending on the circumstances, a special counsel could also be appointed if problems are found.” He added, “Because there are various procedures, methods, and stages, we will respond comprehensively and from multiple angles.”
The previous day, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae stated that he could not comply with Cheong Wa Dae’s request, sent on the 28th of last month, to re-recommend a Supreme Court justice candidate, citing the absence of specific reasons and a constitutional basis. Cheong Wa Dae countered, “That reflects an understanding that the Chief Justice’s power to recommend nominees takes precedence over the president’s power to appoint them, which violates the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.”
Regarding President Lee Jae Myung’s keynote address at the United Nations General Assembly, Kim said that Lee “highlighted the importance of UN multilateralism.” He assessed that the speech “presented a message to the UN while also laying out, in puzzle form, a position different from United States President Donald Trump’s view of international affairs.”
Regarding President Lee’s proposal for a “coalition of countries making constructive contributions” as a solution to global energy supply-chain issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, he said it “presented another paradigm for the future international order and the response to the Strait of Hormuz.”

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter