Democratic Party Floor Leader Urges Chief Justice to Explain Nomination Reversal

Han Byung-do, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, called on Chief Justice Jo Hee-de to "explain the entire decision-making process to the public in detail" regarding his refusal to renominate a Supreme Court justice candidate. Turning to the opposition People Power Party, he pressed the party to cooperate with parliamentary procedures, saying its announced plan to filibuster contested bills amounts to "openly defying the public's mandate."

At a floor leadership meeting at the National Assembly on the 29th, Han said the judiciary must "clearly disclose to the public what options the National Court Administration reviewed, how those were reported to Chief Justice Jo Hee-de, and through what discussions and judgments the decision was ultimately reversed."

"If this is a decision that has caused the longest judicial vacancy on record, shouldn't the process behind it also be subject to public scrutiny?" Han said, demanding that the chief justice appear in person at the parliamentary audit to explain himself. On his way to work the previous day, Jo indicated he would "address the matter through the parliamentary audit," and the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee has designated him as a witness for the audit.

"Since he has been designated as a witness before the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I hope he will keep his word, appear at the audit and explain in detail to the public the entire process behind the decision to refuse renomination," Han said. "There must be no leaving the room after only offering brief greetings, citing custom." He also told the People Power Party that it "must not boycott parliamentary procedures aimed at uncovering the facts by framing them as partisan conflict," adding that "what the National Assembly must do is establish the facts behind the prolonged vacancy on the Supreme Court and restore the public's right to a trial as soon as possible."

Han also sharpened his criticism of the People Power Party. Ahead of the plenary session set for Oct. 1, he characterized the party's plan to filibuster every contested bill as "a textbook case of blanket obstruction." He added: "What public sentiment during the Chuseok holiday called for was not partisan fighting but people's livelihoods. Isn't blocking the passage of bills at the very first plenary session after Chuseok an open betrayal of the public's mandate?"

"The People Power Party should stop this wasteful partisan fighting, put livelihoods first and join us in passing legislation," he said.

Han also said that with the parliamentary audit beginning next month, several standing committees are struggling to approve their audit plans because of the People Power Party's witness requests, criticizing what he called "witness designations aimed at humiliation and obstruction" as "a shortcut to a partisan audit." He said, "Public sentiment is the will of heaven," adding, "We will prove through the results of this regular session that we have heard what the people told us."

Separately, Han pushed back against the People Power Party for raising allegations of a cover-up over an explosion in the Demilitarized Zone before the final investigation results are out. "Our military and the United Nations Command are conducting a joint and transparent investigation, so no one can scale it back or cover it up at will," he said. "Claims that evidence or the site has been damaged are also untrue."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the results of its initial investigation the previous day, concluding it was most likely a mine laid by North Korean forces. "If it is ultimately confirmed to be a mine laid by North Korea, the government must take commensurate measures," Han said. "At today's full session of the National Defense Committee, we will thoroughly examine how the investigation unfolded, the military's assessment and the reporting process."