By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) demanded Tuesday that Chief Justice Lee Yong-hoon take responsibility for the clearing of a minor opposition party leader on charges of violence in a controversial ruling last week.
GNP leaders said the conservative governing party plans to overhaul the judicial system to make sure that innocent people are not victimized due to what it called "judges' biases" in future legal battles.
The liberal main opposition Democratic Party (DP) defended the court, saying it was inappropriate to criticize the judge's decision, which once made should be respected. Any "meddling" in the ruling jeopardizes the independence of the judiciary, it said.
The DP denounced "conservative" party's attempts to tame " liberal" judges with the scare tactic of reforming the judicial system, adding it would not cooperate with the GNP.
During a meeting of senior party lawmakers, GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo expressed his anger over the ruling.
"Quite a few people have called on Chief Justice Lee to clarify his position on the court's clearing of Rep. Kang Ki-kab for violence committed last January in the National Assembly," he said.
Ahn urged the chief justice to take the responsibility for what he called a "biased" ruling by the judge.
Last week, a court found Kang, leader of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP), not guilty on charges related to his smashing items on the floor of the Assembly secretary general's office.
In the ruling, Judge Lee Dong-yeon of the Seoul Southern District Court said Kang didn't intend to harm anybody with his violent behavior and had simply attempted to enter the office to protest the Korea-U.S. free trade deal.
The ruling angered conservative GNP lawmakers.
The governing party has attempted to introduce measures to prevent violence and brawls in the legislature. It believes the court's clearing of Kang will only encourage opposition lawmakers to resort to physical fights.
GNP lawmakers cast doubt on a group of young, liberal judges they allege are behind the ruling, and criticized Chief Justice Lee for allowing them to take control of the judiciary.
Senior party legislators vowed to overhaul the judicial system, saying that a task force will come up with concrete measures next month.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Korean Bar Association said the court's exoneration of Kang will only have a negative effect in the legislature.
Members of the association are also worried that the justice ministry's credibility will be damaged by the ruling.