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Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae gets into his car to leave the Supreme Court in Seocho, Seoul, on September 17. / Source: Yonhap News

The Democratic Party (DP) on September 17 called for a thorough investigation into Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, saying he has “already lost the qualifications of a chief justice” after denying allegations that he discussed President Lee Jae-myung’s election law retrial with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

In a statement, DP senior spokesperson Park Soo-hyun criticized Cho’s denial, saying, “Why is the chief justice’s mouth, which remained shut during martial law and the violent unrest at the Western District Court, opening so lightly now?”

Earlier, Cho issued a statement rejecting the allegations, saying, “I have never discussed the president’s election law case with former Prime Minister Han or with anyone outside the court.” DP lawmaker Boo Seung-chan had claimed during a government question session the day before that Cho had lunch with Han on April 7 and allegedly said, “If the Lee Jae-myung case reaches the Supreme Court, we will take care of it.”

Park went on to argue, “A chief justice who remained silent on matters concerning the survival of the state and judiciary now speaks so easily about personal matters. The people’s demand for judicial reform stems from a handful of misguided judges like Cho and Judge Ji Gui-yeon.” He added, “If Cho has any affection left for the judiciary, he should clarify his position and reveal the truth through a thorough investigation.”

The Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP) also issued a statement criticizing Cho’s denial, saying it fails to answer the public’s core question of “why the Supreme Court overturned the lower court ruling in just nine days, interfering in the presidential election.”

The RKP argued that while courts do not initiate cases on their own, the unusually swift ruling raises suspicions that the Supreme Court responded to external requests. “Since Chief Justice Cho has denied meeting with Han Duck-soo and Kim Choong-sik, an investigation is now unavoidable,” it said.

The party further stressed that “the unprecedented impeachment motion against the chief justice and the drive for judicial reform must not be derailed by his irresponsible stance.”