Cho Hee-dae Effectively Refuses to Appear as a Witness at National Assembly Audit; Ruling Party: "Answer Directly Before the Public"

[Financial News] The Democratic Party of Korea on the 4th urged Cho Hee-dae, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Korea, to attend after he effectively indicated that he would not comply with the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's demand for his appearance as a witness at a National Assembly audit.
Seo Young-kyo, chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a DPK lawmaker, held a press conference at the National Assembly that day and said, "Chief Justice Cho submitted a written opinion regarding the demand for his attendance ahead of the Supreme Court audit on October 6." She added, "He says it would be difficult for him to attend as a witness and provide answers."
Seo criticized the repeated refusal to attend whenever the National Assembly seeks explanations about issues concerning the judiciary, saying, "The judiciary repeatedly invokes its independence to refuse to attend whenever the National Assembly requests explanations on judicial affairs." She added, "Continuing to reject requests to appear before the National Assembly amounts to refusing the legislature's oversight and scrutiny."
She particularly argued that Cho Hee-dae has a duty to attend because the committee designated him as an ordinary witness rather than an institutional witness. Seo urged him to attend, saying, "Refusing to appear violates the National Assembly Act. Chief Justice Cho is not above scrutiny, and judicial independence is not a shield that permits silence in the face of unconstitutional acts. Sit in the witness stand and answer directly before the public."
In his written opinion, Cho Hee-dae reportedly said, "Given that I have a duty to comply with the Constitution and laws, and that investigative proceedings may be underway, it would be difficult for me to attend as a witness and provide answers."
He also reportedly argued, "Requiring the National Assembly to have the chief justice testify about the exercise of his constitutionally independent power to recommend appointments runs counter to the purpose of the separation of powers reflected in Article 104(2) of the Constitution and to judicial independence."
He further reportedly stated that the National Assembly's demand for his attendance "not only exceeds the limits imposed by the separation of powers on National Assembly audits, but also does not accord with the purpose of Article 121 of the National Assembly Act, which does not impose a duty on the chief justice to attend the National Assembly and answer questions."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter