Ruling Party's Push for 'Probe Into Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae' Draws Opposition Rebuke: 'Grounds for Lee's Impeachment and DPK Dissolution'

[Financial News] The People Power Party (PPP) objected on the 27th after the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) made official its plans to pursue a parliamentary investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, calling it “an attempt to enslave the judiciary.” It also claimed that pursuing an investigation into and impeachment of Chief Justice Cho would constitute grounds for impeaching President Lee Jae Myung and dissolving the DPK as a political party.
PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk said in his welcoming remarks at the 7th General Assembly of the National Council of Women Local Council Members, held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that day, “The DPK is committing all kinds of evil and injustice in the name of the law. We must offer whatever resistance we can.”
He asked, “Can this happen in a country governed by the rule of law, like the Republic of Korea: suspending the president’s trial and then, for fear it might resume, launching a parliamentary investigation into the chief justice and pushing for his impeachment to prevent him from exercising his authority over judicial appointments?”
He continued, “The parliamentary investigation is a preliminary step toward impeachment, and they will definitely try to impeach him at the end of this year or early next year.” He added, “If that happens, Chief Justice Cho’s duties will be suspended, and he will be unable to have a say in next year’s judicial appointments. The calculation is that they can simply drag out the impeachment trial until Chief Justice Cho retires at the mandatory retirement age, and then have it dismissed.”
PPP floor leader Chung Jeom-sik spoke to reporters at the National Assembly that afternoon and said, “This parliamentary investigation is unconstitutional.” He strongly criticized it, saying, “It is an attempt to enslave the judiciary. This investigation itself is grounds for impeaching President Lee Jae Myung and the DPK.”
He continued, calling it “childish retaliation for the reversal and remand in President Lee’s Public Official Election Act case with a view to conviction, and a despicable threat intended to prevent the resumption of trials involving the president and his spouse and his closest aides.” He added that it was “a preemptive move to trample on the chief justice’s power to recommend Supreme Court justices and let the president freely choose justices to his liking for his own trial.”
Lawmaker Na Kyung-won wrote on social media (SNS), “A party that defends criminals who should be investigated and tried is investigating the chief justice? Lee Jae Myung’s DPK is busy destroying the judiciary and collectively lynching the chief justice. It will all end with the withdrawal of the indictment against Lee Jae Myung.” She added, “Wouldn’t this be grounds for dissolving a political party?”
The DPK plans to take up a request for a parliamentary investigation at the National Assembly plenary session on the 5th of next month. Since a filibuster (a lawful obstruction of legislative proceedings through unlimited debate) cannot be held on the request, the PPP plans to discuss additional ways to respond.

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter