Ruling and opposition parties clash head-on over bid to impeach Cho Hee-dae: “We will hold him accountable” vs. “A sign of the regime’s downfall”

[Financial News] The confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over the push to impeach Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is intensifying. The Democratic Party of Korea says it will investigate allegations of unconstitutional and illegal conduct by Chief Justice Cho and hold him accountable, while the People Power Party has strongly objected, calling the impeachment push an attempt to cripple the judiciary.
According to political sources on the 17th, the Democratic Party cited Chief Justice Cho’s refusal to resubmit a nomination for a Supreme Court justice, allegations of election interference, and controversy over his use of official business expenses, among other issues, to underscore the legitimacy of its impeachment push.
Lee Yong-woo, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing that day, “Being Chief Justice does not mean he can avoid scrutiny of how taxpayers’ money is spent or how he exercises his authority,” adding, “Investigating allegations of unconstitutional and illegal conduct and holding him accountable accordingly is the National Assembly’s duty.”
The Democratic Party also objected to the People Power Party’s linking of the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho with the impeachment of President Lee Jae-myung. People Power Party floor leader Jung Jeom-sik had previously said that the president would become a “lame duck” the moment an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Cho was introduced. In response, Lee, the spokesperson, said, “It is truly irresponsible to drag the president in and issue threats when we are seeking to hold the Chief Justice accountable,” adding, “We will not be swayed by the People Power Party’s threats and will pursue accountability for Chief Justice Cho to the very end.”
The People Power Party countered that the Democratic Party’s impeachment push could undermine judicial independence. In a statement, the party’s chief spokesperson, Park Seong-hun, said, “The Democratic Party, whose chronic ‘impeachment addiction’ has flared up again, has now set its sights on even the Chief Justice,” and argued, “Do not turn the constitutional power to bring impeachment charges into a means of politically controlling the judiciary.”
Choi Su-jin, the People Power Party’s senior deputy floor spokesperson, also said, “The push to impeach Chief Justice Cho is an extra-constitutional idea aimed at preventing the stalled trial of President Lee Jae-myung from resuming, even if that means paralyzing the courts,” adding, “The Democratic Party must bear in mind that the moment it pushes ahead with the impeachment motion, angry citizens will instead raise their voices calling for President Lee’s impeachment.”

[email protected] Kim Hyun-ji Reporter