野 "Kim Myung-soo Voluntary Resignation" vs 與 "Political Offensive"... Controversy Over Supreme Court Chief Justice's Position

Opposition Cautious on Impeachment Proposal
High Likelihood of Practical Rejection
May Only Provide Justification for Chief Justice Retention
Fact-Finding Team's Protest Visit and Solo Demonstration

Ruling Party: "If Lim's Resignation Was Actually Accepted,
It Could Constitute a Violation of Political Neutrality"

Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo is arriving at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Chae-eun Koo] The political sphere clashed strongly again on the 5th over the controversy surrounding Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo's alleged lies. The opposition party, the People Power Party, believes that Kim's 'impeachment deal' and his false explanations alone are sufficient grounds for impeachment, but they are stepping back as it is not realistic in the current parliamentary organization. Instead, they have significantly increased pressure for Kim's 'voluntary resignation.' The ruling party, which impeached a sitting judge on the 4th for being a 'judge involved in state affairs manipulation,' switched from offense to defense within a day and moved to protect Chief Justice Kim.

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, held a press conference on the 5th, stating, "The lying Chief Justice has completely lost his authority and qualifications as the head of the judiciary," and pressured, "Voluntarily stepping down is the minimum duty to atone to the wounded people." Regarding the plan to impeach Chief Justice Kim, he said, "There are sufficient grounds for impeachment," but added, "It is obviously going to be rejected in practice, and it would only give Kim a justification to remain in office, so it is meaningless." Kim also said, "I think Chief Justice Kim himself is going through considerable moral confusion. In such a state, it is hard not to doubt whether he has the ability to properly control the approximately 3,000 judges." The 'Impeachment Deal Truth Investigation Team,' led by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun, visited the Supreme Court in protest and began a one-person demonstration. Floor leader Joo Ho-young plans to join the one-person protest in the future.

Kim Ki-hyun, head of the People Power Party's Impeachment Deal Truth Investigation Team, is holding a solo protest on the 5th in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, urging Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo to resign. After the recording of Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, who mentioned the possibility of impeachment and rejected his resignation, was released, the People Power Party decided to launch the Kim Myung-soo Impeachment Deal Truth Investigation Team. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the other hand, the Democratic Party of Korea labeled the opposition's claims as a 'political offensive' and moved to 'protect Kim Myung-soo.' The opposition argues that Chief Justice Kim's refusal to accept the resignation of Busan High Court Chief Judge Lim Seong-geun because 'impeachment discussions are underway in the National Assembly' violates the separation of powers, but the ruling party countered that accepting the resignation would have been problematic.

In other words, accepting a resignation while impeachment procedures are being discussed in the National Assembly could be seen as a violation of political neutrality. Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo said on the radio, "The Chief Justice prevented the public service practice that makes it impossible for the National Assembly to hold officials accountable," and added, "I think it was a statement respecting the status of the National Assembly and the principle of separation of powers." Democratic Party lawmaker Park Joo-min also pointed out on the radio, "Impeachment is a constitutional procedure being discussed in the National Assembly, and accepting a resignation immediately at such a time could be seen as a disregard for the legislative branch."

There were also criticisms that Judge Lim's recording and publicizing of his conversation with Chief Justice Kim was inappropriate. Lawmaker Park questioned, "People who intend to record would likely induce certain conversations." Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker running in the Seoul mayoral by-election, directly stated, "If a chief judge records and discloses a conversation with the Chief Justice in a meeting to discuss his own position, then impeachment is indeed appropriate."