People Power Party Representative Jang Dong-hyeok attending a forum evaluating the second year of the Lee Jae-myung administration [Seoul=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, the People Power Party once again criticized the ruling party, including Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, for repeatedly demanding the resignation of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, citing his written recommendation of Supreme Court Justice candidates.

Representative Jang Dong-hyeok wrote in a Facebook message that day, addressing the Blue House's stance that the Chief Justice’s written recommendation was an "unprecedented unilateral notification": "There is no group that surpasses President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party when it comes to doing 'unprecedented' things. Such people only care about 'precedent' when it suits their needs." He added, "The term 'hypocrisy' is not even enough to describe it."

He continued, "It is said that President Lee Jae-myung refused to meet with the Chief Justice from the beginning because there was a specific Supreme Court Justice the President wanted—someone to his liking who would acquit him."

Representative Jang further listed actions such as stopping President Lee Jae-myung's trial, increasing the number of Supreme Court Justices, impeaching the Chief Justice, and posting banners calling for the Chief Justice's resignation, asking, "Are (these things) based on any precedent?"

He then stated, "(The ruling party) claims that (Chief Justice Cho) violated 'constitutional custom,' making it grounds for impeachment. If we were to talk about violating the Constitution, there are already more than enough grounds to impeach President Lee Jae-myung. The people will impeach this administration."

Chief Spokesperson Park Chung-kwon, in a commentary targeting Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, urged, "The behavior of hanging banners across the country and leading a kangaroo-court-style campaign shows that he has not yet abandoned the street agitation and old activist-era protest habits from his time as student council president in the 80s, acting as if the position of ruling party leader is merely a 'protest committee chairman' armband." He added, "Representative Kim should stop this 'judicial abuse bamboo spear song' immediately."

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Kim Tae-kyu stated in a commentary, "Representative Kim demanded that the Supreme Court Justices and the National Conference of Judges declare that the Chief Justice was wrong. Every time a decision they don't like is made, they pressure the official to resign, and as if that weren't enough, they are trying to mobilize judges to take their side." He added, "The Democratic Party must immediately stop attempting to force judges into line."

The People Power Party also criticized suggestions emerging from within the ruling bloc that the Blue House should "demand a re-recommendation" regarding Daegu District Court presiding judge Son Bong-gi, whom Chief Justice Cho nominated as the successor to former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak.

Rep. Park Hyung-soo, executive secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly, urged at a party meeting that day, "If the Blue House rejects the appointment recommendation on the grounds of prior consultation—which is found nowhere in the Constitution or the law—it is clearly an act of tyranny that turns the custom of consultation into a de facto right of prior approval." He added, "President Lee must submit the appointment consent motion to the National Assembly immediately."

Rep. Joo Jin-woo argued on Facebook, "The Blue House says it will pick and choose a specific Supreme Court Justice candidate to reject, and the Democratic Party is already paving the way for it. It implies that a Supreme Court Justice from the Honam region is acceptable, but one from the Yeongnam region is not."

Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae arriving for work [Seoul=Yonhap News]