[2025 Audit] Fierce Debate Over Cho Heedae's Attendance...Democrats: "Responsible for Election Intervention," People Power: "Undermining the Constitutional Foundation"

Democratic Party: "Judging the Yoon Administration's Past Mismanagement"
People Power Party: "Exposing the Problems of the Three Special Prosecutors and the Incompetence of the Lee Administration"

The first parliamentary audit since the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration began on October 13, and from the very first day, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the Q&A session with Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Heedae. The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Supreme Court was held in the morning with Chief Justice Cho in attendance. When Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae attempted to conduct a Q&A session with Chief Justice Cho in her capacity as a reference witness, the People Power Party strongly objected, leading to a heated exchange.

Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, criticized, "It has long been parliamentary practice for the Chief Justice to make an opening statement and not remain present, nor be called as a witness," adding, "Forcing a Q&A session destroys the constitutional foundation of the Republic of Korea." In response, Kim Yongmin, the Democratic Party's secretary on the committee, argued, "The Supreme Court has a duty to answer and take responsibility for whether it intervened in the presidential election."

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is speaking at the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit held on the 13th. 2025.10.13 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Earlier, Chief Justice Cho appeared at the audit and stated, "If judges are made to testify regarding trial matters, it could discourage them from adjudicating according to the Constitution, the law, and their conscience, and could even lead them to be influenced by external pressures." He added, "In a law-governed country with a system of separation of powers, it is rare to find examples where judges are called to testify or be audited regarding trial matters." After the remarks by Chief Justice Cho and the procedural statements by Na Kyungwon and Kim Yongmin, the audit proceeded, starting with independent lawmaker Choi Hyukjin. Chief Justice Cho remained present and did not leave his seat.

The fundamental difference in perception of this audit between the ruling and opposition parties is the reason for the clash on the very first day. The ruling party is focused on exposing the past mismanagement of the Yoon Sukyeol administration and highlighting the need for judicial reform. The opposition, meanwhile, is determined to shed light on the problems surrounding the three major special prosecutors (insurrection, Kim Keonhee, and the fallen Marine) and the current administration's wrongdoings.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the opening ceremony of the National Assembly audit situation room, "This audit must serve as a judgment on the tyranny and mismanagement of the Yoon Sukyeol insurrectionist forces," adding, "We must completely eradicate the remnants of insurrection, pave the way for reform, and create an audit that allows the people's economy to thrive."

In contrast, Jang Donghyeok, leader of the People Power Party, stated, "Even after only four months of experiencing the incompetence of the Lee Jaemyung administration, the public is living in anxiety and concern," and vowed, "Through this audit, we will thoroughly investigate the runaway of political power, the concealment by administrative power, and the abuse of judicial power."

On the 30th, at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae is striking the gavel. 2025.9.30 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The Democratic Party reaffirmed its position to minimize the number of business leaders and related witnesses originally scheduled for each standing committee's audit. It is expected that company heads will be replaced by working-level staff, and adjustments will be made to witnesses who were selected redundantly across committees. However, the People Power Party stated that it would "make appropriate judgments within each relevant committee" regarding business leader witnesses, but took a cautious stance on withdrawing already selected witnesses.

Meanwhile, in addition to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, audits were conducted on this day by eight other standing committees, including the Political Affairs Committee, the Planning and Finance Committee, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, the National Defense Committee, the Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee, the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.