South Korea judiciary controversy intensified as the National Assembly held a hearing on Chief Justice Jo Hee-de’s alleged election interference. Jo did not attend, submitting a letter citing judicial independence and protection of deliberation confidentiality. Lawmakers questioned whether Jo influenced a key ruling during the presidential election.
The Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee examined claims that Jo met privately with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo before the election. Committee members alleged that Jo suggested the Supreme Court would “take care of” the case involving President Lee Jae Myung. Lawmakers said this could have swayed the election outcome.
Committee members argued that the Supreme Court overturned a lower court acquittal and reinterpreted the case in a way that favored a guilty verdict. They stated, “The chief justice delivered an unreasonable ruling ahead of the election, breaching legal principles.” Officials said the decision affected citizens’ rights and constitutional order.
Jo’s written explanation emphasized the importance of judicial independence. He wrote that appearing before the Assembly would violate laws safeguarding court deliberations. Jo insisted, “As chief justice, I must uphold the Constitution and the law, which prevents my attendance.”
The hearing drew political criticism. The opposition People Power Party denounced the session as unconstitutional. Floor Leader Song Eon-seog warned that proceeding without Jo and other judges would become “a dark chapter in Korea’s constitutional history.”
Other top judges, including Supreme Court Justices Lee Heung-gu, Lee Suk-yeon, and Park Young-jae, plus Court Administration Director Cheon Dae-yeop, also refused to attend. Presidential Committee for National Cohesion Chair Lee Seok-yeon criticized the hearing for lacking basic witness participation.
The ruling Democratic Party countered that the judiciary showed contempt for parliamentary oversight. Representative Jeon Hyun-heui said Jo missed an opportunity to explain himself to the public. She added that unanswered questions would be revisited in the upcoming parliamentary audit.
However, lawmakers noted that additional measures could follow. On-site inspections of the Supreme Court remain possible if doubts persist. The Democratic Party said it will explore all legal options to hold Jo accountable.
Under Korean law, witnesses who refuse to attend hearings without valid justification can face up to three years in prison or fines up to 30 million won. This adds further tension to the South Korea judiciary controversy as political and legal debates continue.
