Pro-government lawmakers target Chief Justice Jo, vow to hold him accountable for trial delays

Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Progressive Party on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Sunday sharply criticized Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae over what they called deliberate delays in the judiciary's handling of major defendants, and vowed to hold him formally accountable.

Committee chair Seo Young-gyo and other pro-government members of the panel issued a joint statement saying they would "without fail hold the chief justice accountable for dereliction of duty in delaying the trials of those who committed insurrection and abused state power."

The lawmakers directed their criticism squarely at the Supreme Court's recent decision to refer related cases to its full bench. "The Supreme Court has sent to the full bench the cases of Han Duck-soo and Lee Sang-min, who participated in and aided the illegal emergency martial law declaration, as well as that of defendant Kim Keon Hee, who committed crimes of state power abuse," they said.

They said the provision in the special prosecutor act requiring a ruling within three months at the final appeals stage "is an article that carries the public's mandate to minimize national chaos and swiftly restore the rule of law."

The lawmakers called on Chief Justice Jo to "clearly present to the public and the National Assembly a specific schedule for full-bench proceedings and a final sentencing date" in the insurrection and state power abuse cases.

They also expressed concern over the possibility that defendants could be released when their detention periods expire, and demanded action. "There is deep public concern that defendants will be released due to the Supreme Court's delays," they said, pressing the court to "make a clear commitment to deliver a final appeals ruling before the detention deadline."

The members also put the prolonged delay in nominating a successor Supreme Court justice under scrutiny. "Chief Justice Jo has been neglecting his constitutional duty to nominate a justice for months," they said, adding that "the judiciary's abandonment of a Supreme Court seat — a dereliction of duty — shows it has forfeited any standing to speak of judicial independence."

They said "nominating a justice is not the chief justice's prerogative but a constitutional obligation," and called for him to submit a nomination immediately. "Nominate a justice now, if you have any shame before the public," they said.

The pro-government committee members also hinted at the most severe measures against the judiciary. "Chief Justice Jo's 'accountability' for dereliction of duty will take the form of the first-ever impeachment of a chief justice in the history of the Republic of Korea and punishment under the law against judicial distortion," they said. "The public's patience has reached its limit. The only answer is deeper judicial reform."