Jeong Cheongrae: "Cho Hee-dae, the Main Culprit Behind Judicial Distrust"
On February 27, the pro-government bloc pressured Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to step down, following the resignation of Park Youngjae, Director of the National Court Administration (Supreme Court Justice), over the forced passage of judicial reform bills.
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on Facebook that day, "The person who should submit a resignation is Chief Justice Cho. As the main culprit behind public distrust in the judiciary, Chief Justice Cho must resign immediately."
Kim Yongmin, the ruling party’s secretary on the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, also stated on Facebook, "The person who truly needs to resign is not Director Park, but Cho Hee-dae, the root cause of all these issues." He emphasized, "Chief Justice Cho must stop hiding behind Park Youngjae like a shadowy figure damaging the judicial order, and resign without delay."
Regarding Director Park, Kim said, "It seems he is trying to present himself as if he made a tremendous decision, but if he were truly resolute, he should resign as a Supreme Court Justice, not just as Director of the National Court Administration." He added, "Instead of putting on a performative resignation event, he should propose ways to restore public trust in the judiciary, which has collapsed."
Lee Sungyun, a Democratic Party member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, also asserted, "Since the presiding justice has resigned, presiding judge Cho Hee-dae should resign as well." Assemblyman Lee Geontae claimed, "It sounds like a declaration to protect the organization's vested interests while rejecting reform."
Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, said, "The public has no interest in the resignation of the Director of the National Court Administration, who is resisting judicial reform. The judiciary must first reflect on the reasons why judicial reform has become necessary," calling for the abolition of the National Court Administration.
Regarding Supreme Court Justice Cheon Dae-yeop's nomination to the National Election Commission, they also criticized Chief Justice Cho, saying, "This is an appointment that invites public distrust in the judiciary."
Baek Seunga, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party, commented, "It is hard for the public to understand how someone who was at the center of judicial administration, which has lost public trust, can now aspire to lead the National Election Commission, which must symbolize fairness and neutrality in elections."
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