Jeong Cheongrae: "Cho Hee-dae Should Be the One to Resign"... Democratic Party Officially Voices Concern Over Chun Daeyeob's Nomination as Election Commission Chief

Jeong Cheongrae: "It Is Better to Step Down Voluntarily Than to Be Forced Out"

Democratic Party: "Chun Daeyeob, Judicial Administration That Has Lost Public Trust... Difficult to Accept"

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party, argued on the 27th that "the person who should submit a resignation is Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae," in response to the resignation tendered by Park Youngjae, Chief of the National Court Administration, in protest against judicial reform.

Through social media on this day, Jeong insisted, "Chief Justice Cho, who is the main cause behind the public’s distrust of the judiciary, should resign immediately." In a separate post, he pointed out, "During the 12·3 Martial Law Uprising and the Western District Court riot, the judiciary should have stood for its independence," adding, "Why were you silent during the Japanese colonial period, only to now raise your voice for the independence movement after liberation?" Jeong further stated, "The Democratic Party will complete the three major judicial reforms: the Law Distortion Crime Act, the right to appeal court rulings, and the expansion of Supreme Court justices. Therefore, Chief Justice Cho should resign immediately," arguing, "It would be better to voluntarily step down rather than be forced out."

Jeong Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is moving after paying respects at the February 28 Democratic Uprising Monument in Dalseo-gu, Daegu on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party also officially expressed concerns about Chief Justice Cho’s nomination of Supreme Court Justice Chun Daeyeob as the new chairperson of the National Election Commission.

Baek Seungah, Democratic Party spokesperson for parliamentary affairs, said in a written briefing on the same day, "Given the urgent need to uphold the constitution and restore public trust, the Democratic Party expresses deep concern over Chief Justice Cho, who has caused public distrust in the judiciary, making this personnel decision." She pointed out, "It is difficult for the public to accept that someone who was at the center of judicial administration-having lost the trust of the people-will now lead the National Election Commission, an institution that should symbolize fairness and neutrality in elections."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.