"Impeaching Chief Justice Jo will put the government on the road to ruin"

"Suspending the chief justice would halt all trials, including those of Yoon Suk Yeol"

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on Sunday called out the ruling camp's move to formalize discussions on impeaching Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, saying "stop this." In a Facebook post, Hong said, "If you commit the outrage of impeaching Chief Justice Jo, the government will be on the road to ruin," adding, "It won't be the opposition party doing the impeaching — the people will." [Newsis]
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on Sunday called out the ruling camp's move to formalize discussions on impeaching Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, saying "stop this." In a Facebook post, Hong said, "If you commit the outrage of impeaching Chief Justice Jo, the government will be on the road to ruin," adding, "It won't be the opposition party doing the impeaching — the people will." [Newsis]

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on Sunday sharply rebuked the ruling camp for formalizing discussions on impeaching Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae, saying simply: "Stop this."

In a Facebook post, Hong said, "If you commit the outrage of impeaching Chief Justice Jo, the government will be on the road to ruin," adding, "It won't be the opposition party doing the impeaching — the people will."

He said that attempting to suspend the chief justice through impeachment would bring all Supreme Court proceedings to a halt. "All trials related to Yoon Suk Yeol would also be suspended, and there could even be cases where he would have to be released because his detention period has expired," Hong said.

Hong also warned that any attempt to bring the judiciary under control would amount to a rejection of the separation of powers and a destruction of democracy. "Even if you don't like it, respecting each other's authority is the starting point of democracy," he said.

He closed with a blunt warning: "Stop this. Overreach always invites disaster."

The Democratic Party of Korea has in effect launched a push to impeach Chief Justice Jo, formally opening discussions on the matter.

Earlier, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said in a YouTube broadcast on Friday that the party had begun deliberating all available options and avenues related to the issue.

Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Yong-woo on Saturday cited a series of allegations against Chief Justice Jo — including his refusal to recommend new Supreme Court justices, a prolonged vacancy on the bench, allegations of election interference stemming from a case remanded just before the presidential election, and controversies over falsified expense records and improper incentive payments — and said holding Jo accountable for suspected constitutional and legal violations was the National Assembly's duty.


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