Chung Jeom-sik: "If Cho Hee-dae Appears at the National Assembly Audit, President Lee Should Too"

[Financial News] Chung Jeom-sik, floor leader of the People Power Party, cited seven reasons on the 5th, one day before the National Assembly audit of the Supreme Court of Korea, why Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should not appear as a witness. He argued that if Cho, the head of the judiciary, is called as an audit witness, President Lee Jae Myung, as head of the executive branch, should also appear as a witness to ensure fairness.
Chung Jeom-sik posted a message on social media that day titled "Seven Reasons Why Chief Justice Cho Should Not Appear as a Witness at the National Assembly Audit."
He first criticized it as "the unilateral selection of a witness by the ruling majority, ignoring an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties," calling it "a demand for attendance lacking legitimacy as an institution representing the people." Despite opposition from People Power Party lawmakers, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly selected Chief Justice Cho as an ordinary witness under the leadership of the pro-government bloc.
He also pointed out, "Calling the Chief Justice, one of the heads of the three branches of government, to a National Assembly audit is an act of tyranny and abuse of power by the National Assembly against the judiciary, violating the separation of powers. It is a demand for attendance intended to shift responsibility for Cheong Wa Dae's unconstitutional request for a new recommendation onto the Chief Justice and to muddy the essence of the audit."
Chung Jeom-sik argued, "The National Assembly's audit of the process by which the Chief Justice recommends candidates for Supreme Court justices is itself another infringement on the Chief Justice's constitutional authority to make such recommendations and violates the Constitution. There is no precedent for summoning a chief justice as an ordinary witness at a National Assembly audit. This undermines the Democratic Party of Korea's own claim that recommending Supreme Court justice candidates in writing without consulting the president goes against established practice."
He added, "On the issue at hand, the head of the National Court Administration can provide a sufficient answer on behalf of the Supreme Court of Korea. The demand is merely intended to provoke wasteful political bickering to berate and humiliate the Chief Justice."
In addition, Chung Jeom-sik said, "The Democratic Party of Korea insists that the Chief Justice should attend the National Assembly audit, saying that 'no one is above scrutiny.' But if no one is above scrutiny, President Lee's five trials should be resumed first."

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter