DP leader Kim says court chief should quit if he cannot handle re-recommendation
Version 2: Additional Korean-language reports confirm the remarks and add Dong-A Ilbo's framing that Kim was calling for the chief justice's voluntary resignation, plus wider coverage of Kim's comments on the military service benefits dispute and the party convention investigation.
In short
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said on 7 October that Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should quit if he cannot resolve the issue of re-recommending Supreme Court justice candidates. Kim made the remark on the party's YouTube programme Minti 07, responding to Cho's position that the re-recommendation has no basis in the constitution. Kim also linked the matter to a parliamentary audit the previous day that raised Cho's official expense records, including hotel restaurants.
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Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said on 7 October that Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should step down if he cannot resolve the issue of re-recommending Supreme Court justice candidates, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business, SBS News, Seoul Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo. Kukmin Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo carried the same statement in their headlines. Kim spoke on the party's YouTube programme Minti 07, the reports said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
Kim was responding to Cho's position that the re-recommendation has no basis in the constitution, as reported by Yonhap, Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily. Asked about the chief justice, Kim said that “if he cannot handle such a matter, he had better quit,” the outlets reported. Chosun Ilbo described Cho as being in conflict with the presidential office over the recommendation of Supreme Court justice candidates. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
Kim also tied the issue to the previous day's audit by the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, where Cho's records of official expenses, including hotel restaurants, were raised, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business, SBS News, Seoul Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo. Kim said Cho must have found his position awkward and “embarrassing to have to talk about omakase,” and argued that this too stemmed from the failure to resolve the re-recommendation question. Dong-A Ilbo quoted him as saying the root of the matter lay in the failure to properly handle the court administration's problems. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
On the nomination of Kim Ji-yong to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, which hardliners in the party have opposed, Kim said it was time for the party to bring the matter under control and that he understood it would not be discussed further. He added that the issue could be handled through a confirmation hearing, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business, SBS News, Seoul Economic Daily and Dong-A Ilbo. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Kim also addressed the controversy over military service benefits for Asian Games ball-sport team players. He said that with changing times and national standing there is a view that the scope and method of the benefits should be significantly revised, noting that lawmakers have already filed bills ranging from abolishing the exemptions to limiting them by sport. He said the party had tentatively agreed to leave a broad review of an adjustment to the lawmakers, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business, SBS News and Seoul Economic Daily. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Separately, Yonhap and SBS News reported that Kim said the investigation into an alleged Shincheonji involvement in the August 17 party convention was carried out by Supreme Council member Park Sun-won, that it has been concluded, and that how to make it public is under review. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The remark by the leader of South Korea's ruling party escalates a public dispute between the party and the head of the judiciary over the appointment of Supreme Court justices. The documents describe no procedural step that follows from Kim's statement, so its practical effect on the re-recommendation is not yet stated.
Key facts
- Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said on 7 October that Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should quit if he cannot handle the re-recommendation of Supreme Court justice candidates. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Kim made the remarks on the party's YouTube programme Minti 07. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Cho has said the re-recommendation has no basis in the constitution, according to Yonhap, Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- At the previous day's National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit, Cho's official expense records, including hotel restaurants, were raised. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Kim said the dispute over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency should be handled through a confirmation hearing. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Kim raised the need to revise military service benefits for Asian Games ball-sport team players, saying the party had tentatively agreed to leave a broad review to lawmakers. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim said an investigation into alleged Shincheonji involvement in the August 17 party convention has been concluded and that how to make it public is under review. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should quit if he cannot resolve the re-recommendation issue. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Kim made the remarks on 7 October on the party's YouTube programme Minti 07. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Cho Hee-dae has taken the position that the re-recommendation has no constitutional basis. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- At the previous day's Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit, Cho's official expense records, including hotel restaurants, were raised. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Kim said the party had tentatively agreed to let lawmakers review a broad adjustment of military service benefits for Asian Games ball-sport team players. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Kim said the issue of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency nominee should be dealt with through a confirmation hearing. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the re-recommendation of Supreme Court justice candidates will proceed, and on what basis. The documents report the dispute but do not describe any decision or next procedural step.
- What specific action, if any, follows from Kim's call for Cho to quit. No document says whether the party intends impeachment or any other measure.
- Whether Kim was formally calling for the chief justice's resignation. Dong-A Ilbo describes the remark as a call for voluntary resignation, while other outlets report it as a statement that he should quit if he cannot handle the matter.
- The outcome of the dispute over the nomination of Kim Ji-yong to head the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency. Only Kim's statement that the matter should go through a confirmation hearing is reported; no decision is given.
- The outcome and publication of the investigation into the alleged Shincheonji involvement in the August 17 party convention. Reported by two outlets, both saying how to make it public is still under review.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee holds an audit at which Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's official expense records, including hotel restaurants, are raised. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, appearing on the party's YouTube programme Minti 07, says Cho should step down if he cannot handle the re-recommendation issue. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Yonhap publishes the first wire report of the remarks, followed by Maeil Business, SBS News, Seoul Economic Daily, Dong-A Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Kim also comments on the investigation agency nominee, military service benefits for Asian Games ball-sport players and the Shincheonji allegation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]