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People Power Party members of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee walk out in protest as Chair Choo Mi-ae moves to adopt a plan for an on-site inspection of the Supreme Court during a full committee meeting at the Assembly on September 30. / Source: Yonhap News

The National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee will conduct an on-site audit at the Supreme Court on October 15, extending its oversight by a day after a raucous hearing on alleged “election interference” by Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.

Ruling and opposition lawmakers clashed over the absence of key witnesses, including Cho, with the opposition calling the move “political retaliation,” while the ruling party warned that “Cho will have nowhere to hide.”

Committee chair Choo Mi-ae of the Democratic Party pushed through revisions to the 2025 audit plan and a motion to carry out an on-site inspection at the court, triggering protests from People Power Party (PPP) members, who stormed out amid shouting and insults.

The adopted witness list includes Chief Justice Cho; Justices Oh Kyung-mi, Lee Heung-gu, Lee Suk-yeon and Park Young-jae; Court Administration Chief Cheon Dae-yeop; former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; Seoul Central District Court Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon; and Seoul Central District Court President Oh Min-seok. The on-site session will be held at the Supreme Court on the 15th, in addition to the previously scheduled audit on the 13th at the Assembly.

PPP Rep. Cho Bae-sook said, “I don’t understand why we suddenly need two days when one was set for the 13th, or why we must move it from the Assembly to the Supreme Court. It looks like an emotional retaliation for no-shows by key witnesses.”

PPP Rep. Song Seok-joon asked Chair Choo to clarify whether the field audit was “to show courtesy and spare them the trip, or to intimidate and berate them on their home turf because they didn’t appear today.”

Democratic Party Rep. Park Ji-won likened the witness-less hearing to “fish-shaped buns without fish,” arguing that a field inspection on the 15th was necessary if the day’s questioning fell short.

PPP Rep. Na Kyung-won said the move was “shameful before the public,” criticizing an additional day at the court “because people didn’t show up for a hearing built on fake YouTube and news,” and calling it political retribution.

Democratic Party Rep. Seo Young-kyo countered that “those with nothing to hide should have come,” warning that a May 1 remand case “handled unfairly” could “undermine trust in the judiciary as a whole.” She said Cho’s office had sent “a false schedule” that omitted the May 1 decision and called for a thorough on-site audit.

Tensions spiked when PPP lawmakers objected to Seo referring to the chief justice by name only. After PPP Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek told her, “Don’t be so rude,” Seo shot back, “Be quiet,” and used sharper language, plunging the room into chaos.

Kwak later accused the Democrats of using the extra audit day and the field venue “to pressure the Supreme Court.” Democratic Rep. Kim Ki-pyo escalated, saying, “If Chief Justice Cho finds it troublesome to appear before the people, we will go and ‘have an audience’ with him. He will have no place to hide.”

The Democratic Party has maintained that if Chief Justice Cho fails to cooperate with the audit, it will consider a criminal complaint and impeachment proceedings.