Assembly judiciary panel votes to summon chief justice over 'written recommendation' controversy

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 31 to question Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae over the so-called "written recommendation" controversy and related matters.

The committee held a plenary session Friday and, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, voted to require Jo and Court Administration Office chief Noh Gyeong-pil to appear as witnesses. People Power Party members opposed the summons and walked out just before the vote.

Kim Seung-won, the ruling Democratic Party's floor whip on the committee, said Jo and Noh had shown "an excessive disregard for the National Assembly and the presidential office." He added that they should "appear before the full committee and explain their actions in detail, rather than hiding behind curtains or proxies."

The committee had already voted at a plenary session Wednesday to designate Jo as a witness, also under Democratic Party leadership. Jo did not attend that session.

Meanwhile, Kim told reporters Friday that his recent radio remarks about abolishing the Court Administration Office reflected his personal views. He was responding to a question about whether legislation to that effect would pass during this year's regular parliamentary session. In those remarks, he had said it was "time for sufficient discussion" and that he personally felt there was "no more room to hesitate."