Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, called on Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae on Tuesday to resign immediately over a controversy surrounding cash bonus payments to Supreme Court justices, saying the chief justice had "mocked the legislature and deceived the sovereign people in an unprecedented act."
Speaking at a national audit strategy meeting at the National Assembly, Han said Monday's national audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection had "repeatedly confirmed that Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae's office paid cash bonuses to Supreme Court justices and the court administrator." He added that Jo himself was "the very person undermining the authority and credibility of the judiciary."
Han also said Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Kim Ho-cheol had made clear during the audit that the chief justice, as head of the institution, was responsible for the bonus payments. Kim further found that the chief justice's regular, uniform distribution of such bonuses violated the National Finance Act, Han added.
Han questioned whether Jo had been truthful during the Supreme Court's national audit on Oct. 6, when the chief justice said he had no involvement whatsoever in the payments. "Was Chief Justice Jo truly uninvolved and unaware?" Han said. "Did he give a false explanation before the National Assembly simply to protect himself?"
Han also renewed his criticism over Jo's repeated refusal to take a witness oath, asking whether it was "to avoid punishment for perjury."
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