Park Jumin Says "Changing Case Assignment in Insurrection Case Could Restore Trust" Amid Pressure on Chief Justice Cho to Resign

Government and Ruling Party Intensify Pressure on Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae
Park Jumin: "No Action Taken Despite Raised Concerns"
"Case Assignment Procedure for Yoon's Case Should Change... Not Retaliation"

As pressure from the government and the ruling party intensifies on Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Jumin Park, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "Regarding the (former President Yoon Suk-yeol) insurrection case, the court can restore public trust by changing the method of case assignment or similar measures."

Jumin Park, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker

In an interview on YTN Radio's "Kim Junwoo's News Jeongmyeonseungbu" on the 15th, Assemblyman Park said, "The judiciary has long asserted the independence of trials, and while there have been significant efforts to ensure independence from external influences, it has been evaluated as weak in terms of independence from within." He continued, "This is why, during the tenure of Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae, suspicions were raised that the judiciary used personnel authority and other means to trade trials as a way to resolve their own grievances." Park added, "Recently, there have been suspicions that there are attempts from within to influence the trial regarding the insurrection case, which led to the idea of adopting a different case assignment procedure. Judge Ji Guyoun is a central reason for this."

He enumerated, "Procedures that are not stipulated by any law are being implemented, unprecedentedly calculating the period of detention by the hour rather than by the day to grant release, and there have been incomprehensible outcomes regarding the issuance of certain detention or arrest warrants." He pointed out, "It is difficult to see these as simply the result of one person's mistake or peculiarity." He further commented, "Especially during President Lee Jae-myung's candidacy, the remand trial for the violation of the Public Official Election Act was conducted in a highly unusual manner compared to standard procedures, and this adds to the concerns."

When the host asked, "Assemblywoman Choo Mi-ae has called for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's resignation, and Assemblywoman Seo Young-kyo has said that Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is subject to impeachment. Could this be perceived as political retaliation?" Park replied, "Changing the case assignment procedure cannot be seen as retaliation or infringement."

Assemblyman Park stated, "Chief Justice Cho operated the court in such a way that even senior judges publicly raised issues about decisions that could seriously infringe upon the people's right to choose before the presidential election." He continued, "Even after that, during the proceedings of the insurrection case, there have been continuous incomprehensible developments, yet in reality, no action has been taken." He explained, "In this situation, various discussions are emerging as we reflect on how the judiciary can regain public trust."

President Lee Jae-myung is moving after greeting Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and others following the inauguration oath ceremony at the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of June 4. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On the 15th, Kang Yoo-jung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, was asked about calls for Chief Justice Cho's resignation and responded, "If the National Assembly seeks to reflect the spirit of the Constitution and the will of the people through deliberation and discussion, the highest priority should be the power chosen by the people." She added, "If there are demands from the times and the public, the appointed authority (the judiciary) should fundamentally reconsider the plausibility and reasons for its actions, and we agree with this principle." However, regarding whether the Presidential Office is demanding Chief Justice Cho's resignation, she said, "There is no particular position on this yet."

On the same day, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also responded to a question about Chief Justice Cho's resignation during a parliamentary interpellation session, saying, "We are well aware of the aspects in which the public is disappointed with the judiciary and the Chief Justice."