Cho sounds alarm as detention deadlines near for Han Duck-soo, Lee Sang-min
'Democratic Party only criticizes in words, takes no action'
Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party's innovation policy research institute, on Wednesday criticized both the Democratic Party of Korea and Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae of the Supreme Court over the imminent expiration of detention periods for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Minister of Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, Cho said Chief Justice Jo had carried out "unprecedented political acts" — including overturning a lower-court acquittal of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung and refusing to resubmit nominees for Supreme Court justice positions — yet the Democratic Party "only criticized him in words and took no action."
Cho added that he had "consistently argued" that Jo should have been impeached immediately after refusing to resubmit the justice nominees, with the Court Administration Office abolished while Jo remained suspended from duty. "Some judges, having sensed the Democratic Party's powerlessness, are now calling for resistance," he said.
"Chief Justice Jo is toying with the Democratic Party," Cho warned, adding that if Han or Lee were released upon the expiration of their detention, "the fury of the people who put their bodies on the line to stop the insurrection will not be directed solely at the 'Jo Hee-dae judiciary.'"
Cho predicted that "given the Democratic Party's current pattern of behavior, even after Han is released, they will simply criticize Jo in words and nothing more." He also forecast that Jo would use the regular judicial personnel reshuffle in February next year to install "second and third Jo Hee-daes" on key court benches.
Han was sentenced to 23 years in prison at trial and 15 years on appeal on charges of seeking to legitimize the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration through a Cabinet meeting. His detention expires Nov. 20.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold an appellate hearing in Han's insurrection case the day before, on Nov. 19, and the possibility of his release cannot be ruled out.
Lee was sentenced to seven years in prison at trial and nine years on appeal on charges of ordering the fire department chief to cut power and water to media outlets during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. His detention expires Dec. 18.
shindw@heraldcorp.com
