Rebuilding Korea Party proposes joint task force to impeach Chief Justice Cho Hee-de

Rebuilding Korea Party (조국혁신당) leader Sin Jang-sik proposed on 20 October that the Democratic Party and other pro-reform parties set up a joint task force to pursue the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-de. He spoke at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

Sin said the party was designating lawmaker Kim Hyeong-yeon, a former judge, as its point person for the impeachment push, and asked other parties to name their own lawmakers. He also proposed a joint caucus meeting of five parties and said consultations between floor leaders should begin immediately. Sin said it was something that could be carried out if the Democratic Party took a responsible decision. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]

Sin said that if Cho, as head of the judiciary, took no action, Kim Keon-hee would be released when her detention period expired on 31 October. He called for a one-point plenary session to vote on the impeachment motion before then, and urged Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik and the Democratic Party to make a forward-looking decision. He said he did not know what would happen if she were freed and became a rallying point for "Yoon Again" forces. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

Chosun Ilbo reported that the Democratic Party had taken a cautious position on pursuing Cho's impeachment, citing a possible backlash among other reasons. Asked about the risk of a backlash if the impeachment were rejected, Sin told reporters he thought the likelihood of the impeachment being upheld was very high. He said lawmakers should first answer how to establish judicial justice and what the public's command is. [ 1 , 3 ]

Kim Hyeong-yeon, who attended the press conference, listed four grounds for impeachment: a violation of political neutrality through a fast-tracked ruling on a presidential candidate, leaving a Supreme Court justice seat vacant for seven months by refusing the president's nomination request, paying incentive money to justices and using business promotion funds contrary to budget guidelines, and refusing to take the oath and testify as a witness at the National Assembly. Rebuilding Korea Party spokesperson Park Byeong-eon said that even if the Constitutional Court dismissed the case on the gravity requirement, a ruling clearly confirming illegality would make it hard for Cho to stay in office. He said the judgment that Cho could be made to step down once a motion was filed also played a part. [ 4 ]

The party made public its impeachment motion against Cho on 19 October. At the press conference Sin also called for abolishing the court administration office, creating a judicial administration committee and amending the Court Organization Act. Democratic Party floor leader Han Byeong-do and Rebuilding Korea Party floor leader Kim Jun-hyung are to meet on the morning of 21 October to discuss the matter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]