Three Democratic Party Leadership Candidates Raise Need to Impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae

The three candidates for the Democratic Party leadership—Kim Min-seok, Song Young-gil, and Jeong Cheong-rae—shared a consensus on the necessity of impeaching Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae for neglecting his duties, such as delaying the nomination of Supreme Court Justices.

The Democratic Party leadership also criticized the Chief Justice, heightening its tone by characterizing the delay in recommending justices as an abandonment of constitutional duties.

Previously, regarding the fact that over five months had passed since former Justice Noh Tae-ak stepped down without a successor being recommended, lawmakers on the Legislation and Justice Committee urged the Chief Justice to immediately initiate the procedure to recommend Supreme Court justice candidates to the National Assembly. On August 7, 2026, lawmakers from the Legislation and Justice Committee, including Seo Young-kyo and Kim Seung-won of the Democratic Party, Rebuilding Korea Party, and Progressive Party, held a press conference to criticize the Chief Justice's dereliction of duty.