Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
PPP chief slams justice nomination issue in 1st meeting with new DPK leader
Rep. Kim Min-seok, left, newly elected chair of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, look in opposite directions ahead of their first meeting as party chiefs at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, the head of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), criticized the presidential office and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) move over the controversial nomination process for Supreme Court justices Monday during his meeting with new DPK leader Rep. Kim Min-seok.
The barbed comments were unusual given that it was Kim's courtesy call and first meeting with the opposition leader since he was elected to the position on Aug. 17.
During the meeting, Jang brought up the controversy over Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae sending a written recommendation for two justice nominees to President Lee Jae Myung, rather than the usual practice of the chief justice scheduling a face-to-face meeting with the president to make the recommendations. Cho's deviation from precedent led to criticism by the ruling bloc and Cheong Wa Dae.
Jang told Kim that the issue was about "judicial independence." The PPP has claimed Lee and the ruling bloc were trying to intervene in the judiciary by nominating figures close to them.
Referring to a previous incident from the mid-2000s, Jang said, “Former President Roh Moo-hyun accepted and nominated then-Chief Justice Choi Jong-young’s recommendation because he believed that judicial independence must be protected and is fundamental to upholding the rule of law and democracy.”
He added, “As the DPK claims to uphold the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, I hope it will resolve this matter in a way that safeguards judicial independence, the rule of law and democracy … If this issue is linked to the legal challenges facing President Lee Jae Myung, the process must be handled with utmost transparency and clarity to ensure the public has no cause for doubt or alternative interpretations.”
The remarks came amid a series of controversies over prosecutorial reform and judicial independence. Cho, who was appointed as chief justice by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, bypassed the customary consultation with Lee by submitting written recommendations for two justice nominees to the president. When a recommendation is submitted, the president can refuse or accept it for formal nomination. If accepted, the National Assembly holds confirmation hearings.
The presidential office and the ruling bloc argued that the move was procedurally wrong and have called for Cho to step down. Opposition parties, however, argue that the chief justice acted within his authority, accusing the ruling bloc of rushing through legal revisions to shield Lee from criminal charges after he leaves office and of seeking to control the judiciary.
Kim only replied, “I will take that into careful consideration.”
Jang continued with criticism of the government's real estate policy, claiming that Lee is not keeping his presidential election pledges and is disappointing the people by changing them.
“Lee, when he was a presidential candidate, said he would not try to curb housing prices through taxation," Jang said, adding that Lee first pledged to ease property taxes by reforming the officially assessed property-price system, preventing unfair applications of the comprehensive real estate holding tax and temporarily suspending the additional capital gains tax on owners of multiple homes. He said that the government’s real estate policy is moving in the opposite direction from these campaign pledges.
“I believe housing policy, above all, should be pursued consistently so that the public can trust it. To reduce confusion and prevent long-term side effects, policy should be based on market principles while moving in a direction that addresses market failures.”
The two leaders agreed to meet more frequently in person to discuss key issues. They also shared an understanding that additional tax revenue generated by strong semiconductor sales should benefit ordinary middle-class people and young people.