The Chief Justice of South Korea, Cho Hee-dae, who declared the December 3rd emergency martial law unconstitutional, remained silent during his commute the following day amidst growing scrutiny over the judiciary's response to the declaration.
On December 4, 2024, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae of South Korea appeared at the Supreme Court building at 12:40 AM, shortly after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a state of emergency martial law two hours earlier. Several high-ranking judicial officials had already gathered at the court, having received the news through an online article and contacted each other to convene. The meeting was seen as crucial, as discussions surrounding adherence to the emergency measures could lead to allegations of complicity in a coup d'état. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, who summoned a meeting around the same time, faced allegations and was subsequently indicted on charges related to the coup.
