Majority of Democratic Party lawmakers on judiciary panel back impeaching Chief Justice Jo

Support for impeaching Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae is gaining ground within the Democratic Party of Korea, with lawmakers on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee appearing to favor the move. However, despite the Rebuilding Korea Party intensifying pressure by calling for a vote on an impeachment motion before the end of this month, a cautious faction within the Democratic Party remains, and the path to an actual impeachment push is expected to be rocky.

Seven of the 10 Democratic Party lawmakers on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee support impeaching Chief Justice Jo, with two opposed and one neutral, according to reporting compiled Wednesday. The committee is responsible for reviewing impeachment motions, making the pro-impeachment majority within it significant.

Rebuilding Korea Party Floor Leader Kim Jun-hyung held a closed-door meeting with Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do at the National Assembly on Wednesday, urging the party to join the impeachment effort. Speaking to reporters afterward, Kim said he had delivered the impeachment motion and called for action, adding that Han had acknowledged the gravity of the matter and said he would discuss it in depth internally.

The Rebuilding Korea Party had also proposed on Tuesday the formation of a joint task force with the Democratic Party to pursue the impeachment, as well as a joint general assembly of five parties. Party leader Shin Jang-sik said that if no action is taken, Kim Keon Hee's detention period will expire on Oct. 31 and she will be released. "We must convene a single-agenda plenary session before then and pass the impeachment motion," he said.

The impeachment motion released by the Rebuilding Korea Party cites three main grounds: the Supreme Court's ruling to remand President Lee Jae Myung's Public Official Election Act case for retrial, delays in recommending Supreme Court justices, and allegations surrounding the use of official activity funds.

Voices within the Democratic Party leadership have also called for impeachment. Supreme council member Choi Min-hee wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that while she respects the cautious position on impeaching Jo, she finds it difficult to agree, saying the grounds for impeachment are more than sufficient.

Fellow supreme council member Han Min-su said on SBS Radio that he personally questions whether there is any more time to spare, given that the party has long called on Jo to resign voluntarily. He added that the allegation that Jo violated his duty to recommend Supreme Court justices was, on its own, an extremely serious matter.

However, opinion within the Legislation and Judiciary Committee remains divided, and Floor Leader Han and the broader floor leadership are focused on gathering views from within the party, leaving the prospect of an actual impeachment push uncertain.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Beom-gye wrote on Facebook on Tuesday urging against haste. "Impeachment is being argued, but I hope we do not rush," he said, adding that the party should first conduct a parliamentary investigation to verify the allegations, perceptions and conduct in question before discussing impeachment procedures.