DP considers parliamentary probe into Supreme Court chief following impeachment calls

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) said on Wednesday that it is considering launching a parliamentary investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de following an ongoing debate within the party over whether to seek his impeachment.

Following a meeting of the party’s supreme council, DP spokesperson Cho Gye-won told reporters that the party was considering launching such a probe to look into “specific grounds” for impeaching the chief justice after the ongoing parliamentary audit ends later this month.

When asked whether the aim would be to impeach the chief justice, the lawmaker replied, “It is intended to shed light on the grounds for impeachment [...] so it could be seen that way.”

The announcement came after DP leader Kim Min-seok said on Friday that the party has begun discussing various options to impeach Jo.

Some DP lawmakers have called for Jo’s impeachment after taking issue with his refusal to recommend a new candidate for a Supreme Court justice — as requested by the presidential office — and allegations of improper use of official funds.

Other lawmakers, however, have questioned the need to pursue Jo’s impeachment, noting that his term ends in June next year.

Earlier in the day, the minor Rebuilding Korea Party delivered a draft impeachment motion to the DP, urging it to join efforts to impeach Jo.

Yonhap