People Power Party "Presidential Office Pressed for Jo Hee-dae's Resignation...Legally Reviewing President Lee's Impeachment"

"Commencing work to review constitutionality and proceed with legal procedures."

Questioning Assemblyman Park Seong-hoon [Yonhap News photo]

The People Power Party claimed on the 16th that the Presidential Office pressured Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae to resign, stating that they are "legally reviewing the impeachment of President Lee."

Park Seong-hoon, the senior spokesperson, made these remarks to reporters after a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly that day.

Regarding the ruling party's demand for Chief Justice Jo's resignation and the controversy surrounding Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung's subsequent partial retraction of remarks such as "principled agreement," he argued, "Inferring from Spokesperson Kang's remarks, it suggests a situation where the President is directly pressuring Chief Justice Jo to step down." He added, "This is a serious issue that violates the separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution and the President's political neutrality."

He continued, "We have commenced work to review whether President Lee has violated the Constitution, including the Presidential Office's statements aiming to have Chief Justice Jo step down, and to proceed with legal procedures."

When asked about Spokesperson Kang's explanation that "'the Presidential Office agreeing with the theory of Chief Justice Jo's resignation' is a misinterpretation and a false report," Park stated, "I do not believe the briefing remarks were incorrectly conveyed and I believe they contain the truth. The Presidential Office should not be trying to cut its losses."

When asked, "'Will a petition be submitted to the court to resume President Lee's trial, including the retrial of the Public Official Election Act case?'" he replied, "We are exploring all legal means, including the resumption of trials." Yonhap News