The petition for impeachment by the court of Jung Kyung-sim exceeded 400,000 Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo is silent

As of 12 p.m. on the 29th, the number of people who agreed to the Cheong Wa Dae national petition to impeach the judiciary of Dongyang University professor Chung Gyeong-shim exceeded 410,000. [사진 청와대 홈페이지]

The Blue House petition for the impeachment of the first trial court, which sentenced Dongyang University professor Jeong Gyeong-shim to four years in prison, the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kook, obtained more than 410,000 consents within six days. Amid growing concerns that public opinion-conscious rulings could increase, voices are rising that Supreme Court Chief Kim Myung-soo, the head of the judiciary, should reveal his position.

As of 12 p.m. on the 29th, about 420,000 people participated in the Cheong Wa Dae national petition requesting the impeachment of Professor Jeong’s court. The petitioner urged the National Assembly to propose an impeachment prosecution, saying, “It seriously violated Article 103 of the Constitution, which states that three judges must judge according to conscience.” There is also a movement to discuss judicial reform around the ruling party. Democratic Party Supreme Commissioner Shin Dong-geun said, “We will systematically and strongly promote strong prosecution reform and judicial reform.”

The atmosphere was similar in August. The Blue House petition for’impeach the judge who permitted the August 15th Gwanghwamun protests’ came up, and 410,000 people agreed. Along with Lee Won-wook, Democratic Party lawmaker also proposed the so-called “Park Hyeong-soon Ban Act,” which prohibits assembly and demonstration in areas where assembly restrictions were imposed on the Infectious Disease Prevention Act. Judge Hyung-soon Park is a judge who made a decision to suspend execution at the disposition of the Seoul Metropolitan Government that prohibited the Gwanghwamun assembly.

President Moon Jae-in is listening to Supreme Court Chief Kim Myung-soo’s remarks at the’Five Factors Invitation Meeting’ held at the Blue House on the morning of the 22nd. [청와대사진기자단]

At that time, from the incumbent deputy judge to the former Supreme Court, publicly raised concerns that “proposing a law aimed at certain judges because the court’s ruling is dissatisfied could infringe on the independence of jurisdiction.” It wasn’t until September 11,’court day’, about a month later, that the message “Do not be shaken even if there is an unfounded criticism or attack beyond the rational criticism of the judgment.” At the same time, some people pointed out that it is the’rear book statement’ saying, “It is also necessary to read the trend of the times with an open mind and interest in social change.”

On the 28th, Chairman Kim Jong-in of the People’s Forces Emergency Response Committee demanded that the Democratic Party express its stance on criticizing the judiciary, but Chief Justice Kim remains silent this time. Although the New Year’s address is scheduled for January 1st, it is unlikely that the current issue will be included due to the nature of delivering only short stories to the public. However, since the opening ceremony on January 2nd is an event by the judiciary, it is highly likely to present a message about the current situation criticizing certain judges. An official of the court said, “Just because it is requested from outside, it is not the nature to respond,” and “It is difficult to predict how much and how much the message of intensity will be released.”

Inside and outside the courts, voices of concern over the continuing attacks against individual judges are raised. An incumbent judge said, “It is unfortunate that the judge is only burdened by being attacked because the judgment is different from his opinion.” Dr. Seung Jae-Hyun of the Korea Criminal Policy Institute pointed out, “If the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court silently responds to the petition for impeachment of the judge, it means that he has no intention to protect judicial independence.”

Reporter Lee Ga-young [email protected]