Overview
- After initially saying the office agreed “in principle” that Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should reflect on resignation calls, spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung clarified the presidency has no official position.
- Reporters said the office’s briefing transcript briefly removed Kang’s phrase “in very principle-based agreement” before restoring it following protests.
- Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae urged Cho to resign, accusing the top court of delaying cases tied to former President Yoon Suk Yeol; party leader Jung Chung-rae echoed the demand.
- The ruling party is advancing judicial reform bills that would expand the Supreme Court to 30 justices, overhaul selection and evaluation processes, broaden access to lower-court rulings, and add a preexamination step for search-and-seizure warrants.
- Chief Justice Cho has emphasized judicial independence and vowed to seek what he called the right path to reform.