Park Ji-won: "Cho Hee-dae Seems to Be Working to Raise His Profile to Run for President... We'll Go Head-to-Head at the National Assembly Audit"

[Financial News] Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won said of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, "It seems he is working to raise his profile in order to run for president." Park argued that Cho's refusal to comply with President Lee Jae Myung's 'request to renominate a candidate for Supreme Court justice' could be part of a move to prepare for a presidential bid.
During an interview with YTN (Yonhap Television News)'s 'Lee Dong-hyung's News Face-Off' radio program on the 29th, Park said, "For some reason, I am reminded of Yoon Suk Yeol when he was prosecutor general. Isn't he thinking about something strange right now?" He added, "Chief Justice Cho's 'Seocho-dong politics' puts 'Yeouido politics' to shame. He is engaging in judicial politics."
When the host asked whether Chief Justice Cho was trying to recreate how Yoon Suk Yeol, then prosecutor general, had emerged as a new conservative figure by appearing to be persecuted under the Moon Jae-in administration, Park replied, "That's what I think."
Asked whether the People Power Party might bring Chief Justice Cho in as a political hired gun, Park said, "That could happen," adding, "They don't have anyone presidential-material right now, do they?"
Park drew particular attention by saying of Chief Justice Cho, who had been selected as a general witness for the National Assembly audit, "He'll show up at the audit and 'go head-to-head.'" He added, "If he goes head-to-head, the Democratic Party of Korea will do the same."
Earlier, on August 18, Chief Justice Cho nominated Presiding Judge Son Bong-gi of the Daegu District Court as a candidate to succeed former Supreme Court Justice Rho Tae-ak. Cheong Wa Dae requested a new nomination, but on the 22nd, Chief Justice Cho stated that he could not comply, citing the absence of specific reasons and a constitutional basis in the document requesting the renomination.
Chief Justice Cho told reporters, "I will discuss the relevant matters through the National Assembly audit, and if there is anything essential, I will convey it through the public information officer." On the 28th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, selected Chief Justice Cho as a witness for the National Assembly audit. The audit of the Supreme Court of Korea will be held on October 6.
[email protected] Ahn Ga-eul Reporter