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Public Times — The Court Division of the National Public Officials Labor Union (Court Union) issued a statement on March 4th, calling for measures to mitigate potential negative consequences following the passage of three judicial reform bills in the National Assembly at the end of February.
The union expressed deep concern, stating, “While there are worries about possible side effects or misuse in implementing these three bills, we are primarily dismayed by the Supreme Court’s complacent attitude and extreme incompetence in addressing the current situation.”
The union posed a critical question: “As Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae noted, has our judicial system, which has been in place for nearly 80 years, ever faced such a severe crisis of public trust and rejection? What’s at the root of this overwhelming sense of powerlessness?”
They further elaborated, “This crisis stems from a series of rulings that have significantly diverged from public sentiment and contemporary values. The Chief Justice and other justices have been perceived as attempting to curtail citizens’ political rights, employing unusual legal interpretations to exonerate a rebellion leader, citing factually incorrect sentencing rationales during live-broadcast verdicts, and consistently rejecting arrest warrants for key figures implicated in the rebellion, including the Minister of Justice. These actions have pushed public patience to its limits.”
The union urged, “The courts must now develop strategies to minimize the potential negative impacts of these three judicial laws. Furthermore, they should establish special committees or consultative bodies to engage in constructive dialogue regarding future legislative initiatives on judicial reform, such as the proposed abolition of the Court Administration Office.”
In a pointed critique, the union stated, “If Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae chose to enter the political arena and attempted—unsuccessfully—to undermine a presidential candidate, he should take responsibility for his actions and resign with dignity.” They emphasized, “This step is crucial for the judiciary to begin rebuilding public trust.”
Senior Reporter Kim Seong-gon gsgs@public25.com
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