Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won. [Yonhap]

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Ji-won said Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae's refusal to re-nominate Supreme Court justice candidates appears to be a move made with a presidential run in mind.

Appearing on YTN Radio's "Lee Dong-hyung's News Straight Up" on Tuesday, Park said Jo's announcement that he would explain his position through the national audit and other channels reminded him of something. "It's oddly similar to when Prosecutor General Yoon Suk Yeol was building his profile," Park said. "I can't help but wonder if he's thinking the same strange thoughts."

Park criticized Jo for what he called judicial politicking. "Chief Justice Jo's Seocho-dong politics puts Yeouido politics to shame," he said. "He is playing politics with the judiciary."

When the host suggested that the People Power Party might recruit Jo the way it once used former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Park agreed. "They have no one presidential right now, so that could well happen," he said.

On the Democratic Party's decision to summon Jo as a general witness — rather than an institutional witness — at the national audit, Park said the distinction matters. "In the past, as an institutional witness, the chief justice would just come in at the start to say hello and return at the end to give closing remarks," he said. "This time he has been called as an individual witness. He will probably want to go toe-to-toe with Assembly members, but if he does, we will be ready for him."


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