Cho Kuk: "If we miss the window for judicial reform, we will lose the general election"

In a Facebook post on the 25th, Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party's Innovative Policy Research Institute, criticized the Democratic Party for becoming engrossed in an internal power struggle and missing the window to impeach Chief Justice Jo Hee-de and pursue judicial reform, arguing that if things continue this way, the party will lose the 2028 general election to pro-insurrection and far-right forces. In effect, he held the Democratic Party responsible for failing to push through the impeachment of Chief Justice Jo Hee-de.

His remarks came after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was acquitted in the second-instance (appellate) trial over allegations that he illicitly received funds from political operative Myeong Tae-kyun for opinion polls. Cho characterized the ruling as a "counterattack by political justice," saying it was "a display of force showing that they stand above the people and the National Assembly, and an act of contempt and mockery toward the citizens who held cheering sticks."

Cho argued that responsibility for failing to carry out the impeachment lies with the National Assembly. Citing the Supreme Court ruling on the death of Corporal Chae in the case involving former Marine 1st Division commander Im Seong-geun and the first-instance ruling on former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's refusal to appoint a Constitutional Court justice, he claimed, "Punishing the insurrection now hinges on the 'Jo Hee-de judiciary,' yet the National Assembly is sitting on its hands." The post came three days after Cho gave a lecture at the Jangseong County Family Center in South Jeolla Province on the afternoon of the 19th, continuing his public criticism of the judiciary.

The Democratic Party is expected to begin discussing a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Jo Hee-de as soon as the National Assembly audit concludes at the end of this month.