By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Whether it was predictable or not, Judge Lee Dong-yeon at the Seoul Southern District Court has brought the Korean judiciary into chaos, which is unlikely to end in the foreseeable future. Rather, it is being fueled by pro-government newspapers and politicians and shaped as an "ideological clash" between conservative and progressive groups. The judiciary is taking a wait-and-see attitude.
The latest turmoil was touched off last week by what conservatives call an "absurd and biased" verdict by the 46-year-old judge regarding Rep. Kang Ki-gab of the progressive Democratic Labor Party.
Kang was indicted on charges of destroying furniture in the office of the chief manager of the National Assembly building and wielding a sledgehammer to break into a conference hall in January last year to protest the governing Grand National Party's (GNP) attempt to unilaterally endorse a media industry related bill, which the legislator described as a scheme to muzzle anti-government media outlets.
The judge acquitted Kang last Thursday, saying his controversial behavior was justifiable. "His action was intended as an attempt to enter the hall as a representative of the party," the judge said in the ruling.
Conservative newspapers immediately condemned the ruling, raising suspicion over his left-leaning attitude, citing some previous verdicts he has made and his membership of a fraternity of progressive judges.
Dozens of members of a conservative civic group staged a rally in front of the judge's home in northern Seoul, Tuesday morning. "Lee's verdict was a disruptive action threatening the rule of law," an activist shouted, calling for his resignation. The activist said the rally was intended to interrupt his departure to work.
The judiciary saw the protest as a grave threat to the court's independency, posting security guards to stay with the judge around-the-clock and escort him to his office and home. "This is an unprecedented counteraction," said a senior judge close to Lee. "The ruling can be subject to public criticism, but this is not the right action to take."
Simmering criticism among right-wing media and activists galvanized the governing party. The GNP demanded that Chief Justice Lee Young-hoon take responsibility for the ongoing turmoil, pledging to overhaul the current judicial system to bring what it calls "ideologically biased" courts back on track. Chief Justice Lee has remained tight-lipped.
The opposition Democratic Party (DP) defended the judge, emphasizing that it was inappropriate to criticize the judge's decision, which once made should be respected.
"Any meddling in the verdict may jeopardize the independence of the judiciary," a DP spokesman said.
The conservative Korean Bar Association issued a rare statement Tuesday denouncing the ruling, saying. "Such a politically-biased decision only deals a blow to the judiciary."