On the same day that the nation’s judges held a rare assembly to address threats to judicial independence, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea withdrew proposed bills that would have allowed non-legal professionals to join the Supreme Court and expanded the number of Supreme Court justices to 100. The bills, that were authored respectively by former justice minister-turned-DPK legislator Park Beom-kye and Rep. Jang Kyung-tae, drew sharp backlash amid the perception that the DPK's offensive against the judiciary was in full swing.
The DPK's withdrawn bills mark a pause in the tension between the liberal party and the judiciary ever since the Supreme Court sent back DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung's Public Official Election Act case to the lower court early this month.
The case now awaits retrial at the Seoul High Court, where Lee, the frontrunner presidential hopeful, faces charges of making false statements during the 2021 presidential race. Among the 12 charges Lee faces — across five cases — a guilty verdict on this particular charge could have significant consequences for his political aspirations. This is also why Lee has denounced the case as judicial intervention ahead of the June 3 snap presidential election.
The implications behind the DPK’s actions against the judiciary have been alarming, as they appear to be shielding their candidate while targeting opposition parties and officials across various branches of government.
While political affiliations may play a role, democracy rests on a solid foundation only when we respect the independence and integrity of government branches and their top offices.
The DPK is still pushing for a special counsel investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, who sent Lee’s case back to the lower court, and is seeking to revise laws to protect candidates doing certain actions during presidential campaigns — such as the alleged false statement Lee made in the 2021 race.
Senior prosecutors affiliated with former President Yoon Suk Yeol are being cautious to avoid becoming targets of potential DPK attacks. Prosecutors have resigned, including Lee Chang-soo of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who is regarded as having conducted a "soft" investigation into former first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged corruption.
Notably, the rare meeting of judges adjourned without making any public statements or taking stances, due to the sensitive timing — just over a week before the election — and agreed instead to meet again post-election.
Lee has repeatedly vowed not to seek political retribution if he wins, but he will hold accountable those responsible for the Dec. 3 martial law imposition. The lingering concerns reflect deep division and distrust. Therefore, the decision to repeal the Supreme Court restructuring bill comes at a timely moment to ease public concerns about DPK unilateralism.
The liberal party needs to remember that not so long ago, numerous warnings about unilateralism were raised against the former president. Also, revising the law to expand the number of Supreme Court justices should be done through expert and public consensus and follow proper procedures, rather than being rushed.
The DPK has now found itself in a powerful position amid the political and leadership vacuum left by Yoon’s impeachment. The liberal party holds a majority in the National Assembly, and its candidate is leading in the polls. Although the gap has narrowed, a joint poll conducted and released Monday by Hankyoreh and STI showed Lee’s support at 47.1 percent, compared to People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo’s 37.4 percent. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative Reform Party polled at 9.3 percent. A more recent polled announced Tuesday by Gallup Korea commissioned by JoongAng Ilbo showed the DPK candidate earned 49 percent against Kim's 35 percent.
Whether or not Kim and Lee unify their candidacies, it remains uncertain if Lee’s dominance can be overtaken. While there is a general expectation that the DPK may prevail in the election, Korean voters’ tendency to seek balance should not be underestimated.
Lee vowed to prioritize the economy if elected and to postpone reforms of the prosecution and judiciary for the time being. The DPK should go the extra mile to convince the public that it remains committed to maintaining a functioning of democracy.