March 5 (Asia Today) -- Moves by South Korea's ruling party to discuss the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae risk undermining the authority of the judiciary and weakening the principle of separation of powers.
Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea and allied parties held a public hearing at the National Assembly Tuesday to discuss the "necessity and urgency" of impeaching Cho. The hearing appeared aimed at building legal and political justification for removing the country's top judge.
Some ruling party lawmakers openly argued that impeachment may be the only way to advance their agenda of judicial reform.
Rep. Min Hyung-bae, who co-hosted the hearing, said judicial reform would be impossible unless Cho steps down, adding that impeachment could become the only available "breakthrough." Rep. Jeon Hyeon-hee said the judiciary under Cho should be the first target of reform and accused the courts of resisting legislation passed by the National Assembly.
Lawmakers from smaller progressive parties echoed the call, arguing that public distrust of the judiciary would persist as long as Cho remains in office.
