Jeong Cheongrae Raises Allegations of Political Bias Against Chief Justice Cho Heedae During Visit to Jeju

Budget Policy Consultation Held in Jeju
Democratic Party Pays Tribute at April 3rd Peace Park

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, presided over an on-site Supreme Council meeting at the April 3rd Peace Park Education Center in Jeju on the 17th. During the meeting, he stated, "Yesterday, during the government questioning session, Assemblyman Boo Seungchan raised a shocking allegation," and called for a special prosecutor investigation into the suspicions surrounding Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Heedae.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with other leadership members, visited the April 3rd Peace Park in Bonggae-dong, Jeju City, on the morning of the 17th to pay their respects. Photo by Yonhap News

Assemblyman Boo introduced a tip-off that on April 7, Chief Justice Cho Heedae had lunch with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and others, claiming, "It is said that (at the lunch) Chief Justice Cho remarked, 'If the Lee Jaemyung case reaches the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court will handle it accordingly.'"

In response, a representative for former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo stated, "Regardless of whether it was before or after the Constitutional Court's impeachment decision on former President Yoon Sukyeol, former Prime Minister Han has never had a meeting or meal with Chief Justice Cho Heedae, nor does he have any personal relationship with him."

However, the ruling party is highlighting this issue as a point of contention. Leader Jeong pointed out, "In response to the allegations, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Cho Heedae announced that it would not allow media coverage of his arrivals and departures, as if to silence the press, in order to avoid reporters' questions during his commute."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party paid their respects at the April 3rd Peace Park in Jeju City on this day. Leader Jeong, wearing a camellia flower badge symbolizing the April 3rd Incident on his chest, along with Supreme Council members Jeon Hyunhee, Han Junho, Kim Byungjoo, Lee Eonju, and Hwang Myungseon, offered incense and flowers at the memorial altar for the victims of the Jeju April 3rd Incident and observed a moment of silence. After the tribute, Leader Jeong wrote in the guestbook, "The tears of wailing shed against the stone walls of Jeju, we will wipe them away by settling the legacy of rebellion."

After concluding the on-site Supreme Council meeting, the party leadership held a local budget policy meeting at the Jeju Provincial Government Office. They discussed next year's budget with Jeju Governor Oh Younghoon and other provincial officials. The Jeju side requested budget support for next year's National Sports Festival in Jeju, support for the activation of the Jeju-style public delivery app, and the establishment of Jeju-style basic local governments as included in national policy tasks. This is the first time the Democratic Party leadership has visited Jeju since Leader Jeong took office.