Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae expresses concern that the introduction of judicial requests and the expansion of Supreme Court justices will harm the public, emphasizing the need for public discussion before proceeding with such legislative changes.
On December 12, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae criticized proposed legislation related to the introduction of a judicial request and the expansion of Supreme Court justices, describing them as issues that would cause 'tremendous damage' to the public. He reiterated his intention to persuade the National Assembly against the so-called judicial reform bills being pushed by the ruling party. Stressing the importance of these issues to the Constitution and national order, he called for thorough public deliberation before any decisions are made.
During his morning commute, Chief Justice Cho commented on the judicial request and the bill to increase the number of Supreme Court justices. He underscored that these topics are significant and should be subjected to extensive public debate. He stated that the result of these amendments could lead to significant harm to the public, hence the Supreme Court will continue its discussions and attempts to persuade the National Assembly. His use of the phrase 'numerous times' indicates his ongoing concerns regarding the legislative initiatives.
The political sphere is also engaged in heated debates over the judicial reform bills. Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae remarked on Facebook that she has successfully guided the passage of the three judicial reform bills through the legislative committee. On the other hand, Shin Dong-wook, a senior member of the People Power Party, challenged the government's motives, suggesting that President Yoon Suk-yeol might seek to overturn a guilty verdict from the Supreme Court by appealing to the Constitutional Court. This political tug-of-war reflects the broader implications of judicial reform in South Korea.
