Seoul: The Democratic Party (DP) decided Sunday to delay a decision on whether to pursue the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, following an emergency meeting of its lawmakers. The issue at hand involves a recent court ruling that could significantly impact DP presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the potential impeachment is tied to a court decision last week that revisited an election law violation case concerning Lee Jae-myung. The ruling ordered a retrial for Lee on allegations of making false statements during his 2022 presidential campaign, which has revived the possibility of a sentence that could prevent him from participating in the June 3 presidential election.
The DP has expressed strong disapproval of the court's rapid decision on the high-profile case, labeling it a "judicial coup." While there was widespread agreement among DP lawmakers that the ruling was "unconstitutional," "unlawful," and a "politically motivated intervention," the party also acknowledged the importance of adequately informing the public about the situation before proceeding with any impeachment actions.
Lee Jae-myung remains a prominent figure in the upcoming election and currently leads in recent opinion polls, underscoring the significant political stakes involved in the court's decision.