The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has taken over the investigation into Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, marking the first significant use of the newly implemented law against law distortion. This development follows a complaint filed by attorney Lee Byung-cheol on February 2 through the National Petition Center, alleging that Justice Cho intentionally distorted criminal procedural law in a case involving President Lee's election law violations. The law against law distortion, which took effect on December 12, prescribes severe penalties for judges, prosecutors, and investigators who misapply or distort legal provisions in the performance of their duties.

Attorney Lee claims that Justice Cho, in May of last year, deliberately reversed a guilty verdict concerning President Lee's election law violations, directing the case back to the Seoul High Court for reconsideration just nine days after it was presented to the Supreme Court's full bench. In his complaint, Lee argues that the actions of the justice, who is supposed to uphold legal integrity, amount to a serious crime under the law, defined as deliberately misapplying procedural principles to harm the interests of others, in this case, former President Lee Jae-myung.

This case not only highlights the contentious atmosphere surrounding South Korea's judicial system but also signals a potential shift in how the law is enforced against high-ranking judicial figures. The implementation of the law against law distortion poses serious implications for the accountability of judges and could provoke further scrutiny of the judiciary's role and integrity in the nation, especially as this is the first case brought under this new legal framework.