Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Head-On Over Impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-de at National Assembly Audit
The first National Assembly audit since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung government reached its midpoint on the 19th. The ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on after Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok formally raised discussions on the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-de.
The Democratic Party argued that Chief Justice Cho must be held accountable for refusing the National Assembly's request to re-nominate new Supreme Court justices, leaving the seats vacant, purchasing wine with business expense funds, and paying monthly encouragement allowances to justices. Rep. Kim Ki-pyo of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee even used the phrase 'punishment for unconstitutional conduct.' In response, the People Power Party criticized the impeachment push as an attempt to pressure the judiciary in order to block the resumption of President Lee Jae-myung's trial. Park Sung-hoon, the party's senior spokesperson, warned that if the impeachment motion is filed, 'it will serve as the signal flare announcing the fall of the Lee Jae-myung administration.'
The National Assembly audit schedule continues after its midpoint. Audits of the Seoul Metropolitan Investigation Unit and the Investigation Unit are set for the 19th and 22nd respectively, followed by comprehensive audits by each standing committee starting on the 21st.
The Political Affairs Committee will hold hearings on the 21st and 22nd over responsibility for the introduction of single-stock leveraged ETFs (exchange-traded funds that invest heavily in a single stock). The People Power Party claimed the presidential office was involved in the ETF introduction process and raised questions about the Lee Jae-myung government's responsibility, while the Democratic Party countered that it was introduced through proper procedures. The Strategy and Finance Committee is set for ruling and opposition clashes on the 22nd over the 16.2 trillion won Future Response Fund.
The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee will address disputes on the 23rd over allegations of 'illegal real estate surveillance during the Moon Jae-in government.' At the Korea Real Estate Board audit on the 15th, the People Power Party raised suspicions of documents listing private individuals and illegal surveillance by the Ministry of Land during the Moon administration, and called for additional witnesses including former minister Kim Hyun-mi. The Democratic Party, in turn, said it would summon First Lady Kim Kun-hee as a witness over alleged 'airport corporation personnel rigging.'
Ahead of the Presidential Office audit by the Steering Committee on the 30th, the ruling and opposition parties are already locked in a battle over whether to summon Kim Hyun-ji, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, among other witnesses. Confrontation between the two parties is expected to intensify through the remaining audit schedule, including the impeachment debate over Chief Justice Cho Hee-de and disputes over ETFs, the Future Fund, and real estate surveillance. As a result, various contentious issues, including the battle over witnesses such as Secretary Kim Hyun-ji, will also be addressed during the audit, likely sharpening the political confrontation.
