South Korea's Democratic Party says chief justice impeachment not ruled out
In short
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said on October 14 that the party was examining all ways to address alleged wrongdoing by Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. A party spokesperson said impeachment was not being ruled out, as the dispute over cash payments and judicial nominations continued.
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Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said on October 14 that the party was examining all ways to address alleged wrongdoing by Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, local outlets reported. Speaking at a party leadership meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, he said patience for Cho's voluntary resignation was not unlimited. Party spokesperson Jo Gye-won (조계원) later told reporters the statement meant impeachment was not being excluded, according to Hankook Ilbo. [ 15 , 19 ]
Kim reiterated allegations concerning encouragement payments to Supreme Court justices and misuse of official expenses. He accused the chief justice of breaching laws through monthly cash payments and inflated attendance figures used to process expensive meal costs. Those assertions were reported as Kim's claims. Korea Economic Daily noted that Kim did not directly use the word impeachment in his remarks. [ 13 , 16 , 19 ]
The dispute followed an October 6 parliamentary audit at which Cho said the chief justice did not spend salaries or encouragement money and that a separate expenditure officer handled payments. On October 12, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Ui-gyeom (김의겸) cited a written response from the Board of Audit and Inspection saying it had confirmed the chief justice paid encouragement money to justices and the court administration chief using accounting records and a finance-office statement. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do (한병도) called for Cho's resignation on October 13, Newsis reported. The controversy also involves Cho's refusal to resubmit Supreme Court justice nominations, according to Hankook Ilbo. That outlet said it remained unclear whether the party would actually pursue impeachment and quoted a second-term lawmaker warning that impeachment of the chief justice would carry a substantial burden. [ 8 , 19 ]
Why it matters
The party is increasing pressure on the chief justice to resign. Whether that pressure will lead to an impeachment effort remains uncertain, according to Hankook Ilbo.
Key facts
- Kim Min-seok said the party was substantively examining all options to address the chief justice's alleged wrongdoing. [ 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 19 ]
- Party spokesperson Jo Gye-won (조계원) said impeachment was not excluded. [ 19 ]
- Cho said at the October 6 audit that he was not involved in spending salaries or encouragement payments. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Kim Ui-gyeom (김의겸) cited an audit response saying the chief justice paid encouragement money to justices and the court administration chief. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the party will pursue impeachment. Hankook Ilbo says actual impeachment action remains uncertain, despite the spokesperson not ruling it out.