Ruling Party to Press for Kim Keon-hee's Continued Detention While Discussing State Audit

The Democratic Party of Korea, as an additional warrant hearing for First Lady Kim Keon-hee proceeded on the 27th, called for her detention to be extended and agreed to discuss whether to push forward with a state audit of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-de.

House Speaker Han Byung-do said at a National Assembly audit preparation meeting that day, "To cut to the chase, Kim Keon-hee's detention must continue." He demanded that "an additional detention warrant must be issued, weighing seriously the gravity of the crime and the risk of evidence destruction."

Allegations of trial delays were also raised. In a statement, chief floor spokesperson Jeon Eun-su argued, "A sudden referral to the full bench just a day before the verdict, and a verdict delayed beyond the court deadline up to the expiration of her detention — what citizen could believe this is a coincidence?" He said, "If Kim Keon-hee is ultimately released, the responsibility lies entirely with Chief Justice Cho Hee-de, the head of the judiciary."

On the conflict over the demand for sanctions against Supreme Court justices, senior deputy floor leader Chun Jun-ho criticized, "The head of the judiciary has dismantled the checks and balances between constitutional institutions himself." Deputy floor leader Song Jae-bong said, "Chief Justice Cho must take responsibility for fostering distrust in the judiciary," expressing his resolve to push for the chief justice's resignation and judicial reform.