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Lawmakers vote on a partial amendment to the Public Official Election Act during a plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on June 4. The committee is reviewing revisions to the Court Organization Act, Public Official Election Act, and Constitutional Court-related legislation. / Source: Yonhap News

The People Power Party (PPP) on June 4 fiercely condemned the Democratic Party’s unilateral passage of a bill to expand the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 30, calling it “a massive fraud against the public” and demanding its withdrawal.

Earlier that day, the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed the Court Organization Act revision solely with Democratic Party votes. The bill would gradually increase the number of Supreme Court justices by four per year over four years, adding 16 new justices. PPP lawmakers protested and walked out before the vote.

PPP floor leader Yoo Sang-beom held a press conference at 5:15 p.m. at the National Assembly, stating, “Just 10 hours after President Lee Jae-myung took office, the Democratic Party rammed through this bill. We demand an immediate halt to this legislative dictatorship and an end to deceiving the public.”

Yoo denounced the move as “a blatant legislative coup aimed at turning the Supreme Court into a shield for the Lee administration.” He noted that during the presidential campaign, Lee himself had stated that “it is not the right time to discuss increasing the number of justices” and had directed his party to hold off. The Democratic Party had even publicly withdrawn an earlier proposal to expand the Court by 100 justices or to include non-lawyers.

“Yet now, barely a day after the election, the bill is being forced through,” Yoo said. He also claimed that Democratic Party floor leader Park Beom-gye had told him that “the president approved” of the bill’s submission and passage, despite its controversial nature.

Yoo further alleged that during the day’s committee session, “when two Democratic lawmakers expressed opposition to the bill, the meeting was suddenly adjourned, and they were persuaded behind closed doors. The bill was then pushed through with an alternative plan to add four justices per year over four years.”

Calling it “political fraud” aimed at winning votes, Yoo argued the bill was “retaliatory legislation” born out of President Lee’s anger over the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn his public election law case with a guilty ruling.

“The Democratic Party’s actions today mark the beginning of a monstrous dictatorship,” Yoo said. “It is shocking, even horrifying, that the administration’s first legislative act after the election is a bill to seize control of the judiciary, rather than focusing on people’s livelihoods, foreign policy, or national security.”

He added, “President Lee’s push for this expansion aims to stack the Supreme Court with allies loyal to his agenda, turning the Court into his personal tool. The president and the Democratic Party must apologize for breaking their public promise just days ago not to pursue this plan.”

Yoo also appealed directly to the public: “We must not allow the rule of law to collapse and for trials to become instruments of those in power. We ask the people to firmly oppose this legislative dictatorship and attempt to dominate the judiciary.”

PPP lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk echoed the criticism, saying, “It is appalling. This bill isn’t just about shielding the president; it’s about shielding everyone connected to him. If this is how the Lee administration behaves on its first day, the people can expect five years of the same.”