[2025 National Audit] Fierce Clash Over "Cho Hee-dae's Departure"... Ruling Party Pushes Ahead as Opposition Calls It "Unprecedented Audit"

Na Kyungwon of the Opposition: "Immediately Halt This Unprecedented Audit"
Kim Yongmin of the Ruling Party: "In Grave Situations... The Right to Question Remains"

On October 13, the first national audit since the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration began, and a heated confrontation broke out between the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee over whether Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should remain present.

That morning, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee conducted a national audit targeting the Supreme Court and its affiliated organizations. After Chief Justice Cho delivered his opening remarks, Committee Chairperson Choo Mi-ae proceeded directly to the Q&A session without instructing the Chief Justice to leave.

Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is attending the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's national audit held at the National Assembly on the 13th. 2025.10.13 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

In response, Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, stated, "It has long been customary in the National Assembly for the Chief Justice to deliver opening remarks and then not remain present, nor be summoned as a witness," and urged, "Immediately halt this unprecedented and bizarre national audit in the history of our constitutional government."

Na further argued, "To require the Chief Justice to answer questions from Democratic Party members without instructing him to leave, in violation of established practice, is to begin something unprecedented in the constitutional history of the Republic of Korea," and demanded, "Stop immediately and conduct the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit according to established custom."

She added, "If we follow the Chairperson's logic, then the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the National Assembly would also have to appear before standing committee audits," and continued, "The reason they are not summoned is because it is a basic principle of respecting the separation of powers."

Cho Baesook, another member of the People Power Party, also strongly demanded, "Chairperson Choo said he is not a witness but a reference person, but even a reference person must give consent," and insisted, "Please allow him to leave now."

In response, Kim Yongmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and the ruling party's secretary on the committee, emphasized, "When a grave situation arises, special measures are necessary," and added, "As we are still in the process of overcoming insurrection, it is only natural for the National Assembly to ask what is necessary."

Regarding the opposition members' claim that this infringes on the independence of the judiciary, he asserted, "This matter is, in fact, already concluded," and explained, "The en banc decision has been made, and the retrial is bound by the Supreme Court's en banc ruling, so it is impossible to reach a different conclusion from that of the Supreme Court."