Key facts
- Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok called for Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to resign.
- Kim cited Cho's written recommendation of two new Supreme Court justice nominees as judicial misconduct.
- Kim stated that Cho's actions violated customary procedures for recommending justices.
- A parliamentary committee requested Cho's appearance to discuss the recommendation process.
- Opposition lawmakers opposed the request for Cho's appearance.
SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Yonhap) -- Kim Min-seok, the new leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party (DP), on Wednesday urged Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to step down, citing his written recommendation of two new Supreme Court justice nominees to the president as an act of judicial misconduct.
Kim stated that Cho's behavior was "dishonorable" and violated the customary practice of face-to-face recommendations after consultation with the president. He accused Cho of acting like an "accomplice to insurrection" and compared his actions to a "delinquent student."
Cho had recommended Son Bong-kie of the Daegu District Court and Kim Sung-soo of the Seoul High Court for appointment as new Supreme Court justices. Typically, the chief justice visits the president to make such recommendations in person.
Following the controversy, a request for Cho's appearance before the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee was approved by DP lawmakers. He is expected to be questioned about the recommendation process and other related matters. Lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) voted against this request, with one PPP representative arguing that the recommendation is the chief justice's prerogative.