"Heartfelt Debt to the Homeland" - Public Criticism of the President's Remarks
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] A current chief judge has publicly posted a demand for President Moon Jae-in to step down, sparking anticipated controversy. This is the first time a sitting judge has called for a president's resignation.
Kim Dong-jin (51, Judicial Research and Training Institute Class 25), a chief judge at the Seoul Central District Court, stated on his Facebook on the 19th, "I demand that President Moon step down from his position as president because he is judged to lack the will and ability to uphold the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea."
Judge Kim said, "Regarding the Cho Kuk incident committed by the core of power, I question whether President Moon has ever considered how greatly harmful it is to the identity of the Republic of Korea, which is based on a democratic republic, that he himself speaks of a 'debt of the heart' while allowing former Professor Cho Kuk to continue exercising 'dark power' and enabling the mechanisms of power to operate."
President Moon Jae-in (left) and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk (right) [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, in a New Year's press conference held at the Blue House in January this year, President Moon Jae-in mentioned former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, saying, "He made a significant contribution as a minister until the passage of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office establishment law and other prosecution reform-related bills in the National Assembly," and added, "Regardless of the guilty or not guilty outcome, I feel a great debt of the heart just from the hardships he has endured so far."
Judge Kim further stated, "If President Moon was unaware of the problematic nature of his remarks and actions, that itself is a problem as the head of state; and if he was aware of the unconstitutional situation but still dared to make such remarks and actions, that is still a problem," adding, "Both cases are actions unfit for a president."
Regarding former Minister Cho, he criticized him as "the mastermind who carried out and implemented a conspiratorial plan that goes against democracy."
Meanwhile, Judge Kim deleted his post after it sparked controversy.
Previously, on the 11th of last month, Judge Kim publicly criticized the high-level personnel reshuffle in the prosecution carried out by Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, saying it "directly contradicts the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea."
On that day, in a post on his Facebook, he said, "I want to talk about the dismantling of the investigation team related to regime corruption centered on Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl," and argued, "Even if political power obtained through the people's choice becomes strong at some point, there are legal norms that must be strictly observed under the spirit of the Constitution and constitutional order."
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