Democratic Party: Kim Geonhee's Additional Detention a Natural Decision... Cho Kuk: "Cho Hee-dae Must Be Impeached" (Roundup)
Lawmaker Chung Cheong-rae: "Accords with the public's sense of justice"
Lawmaker Seo Young-kyo: "Calls for a swift and impartial ruling"
The Democratic Party of Korea on Tuesday called the Supreme Court’s issuance of an additional arrest warrant for Kim Geonhee, wife of former President Yoon Sukyeol, “a natural decision that accords with common sense,” and called for a swift and impartial ruling.
Senior Spokesperson Park Seong-jun said in a written briefing that “Kim Geonhee was sentenced to seven years in prison in the first trial and five years in the second for selling government appointments and influence in exchange for gifts, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a painting by artist Lee Ufan and a gold turtle.” He added, “The fact that Kim Geonhee nearly walked free because of delays in her trial is itself shocking to the public.”
Park said, “The Supreme Court referred the case involving the ‘three major allegations against Kim Geonhee’ to a full bench one day before the ruling was due, and has yet to reach a conclusion three months later.” He added, “Issuing this warrant has merely bought time; it has not set justice right.”
“The five-year sentence handed down in the second trial is far too lenient compared with the crime of using public office to obtain luxury goods,” Park said. “The public wants justice without delay and punishment commensurate with the crime, so the Supreme Court must deliver an impartial ruling.”
Chung Cheong-rae, a Democratic Party lawmaker, called it “a natural measure that accords with the public’s sense of justice and common sense,” adding, “It was obviously the right thing to do.” Seo Young-kyo, another Democratic Party lawmaker, said, “There is no chance Kim Geonhee will be released,” and called for “a swift and impartial ruling from the Supreme Court.”
The Rebuilding Korea Party raised the need to pursue the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. Cho Kuk, head of the Institute for Innovation Policy Research, said, “The reality is that we have to feel relieved by a decision that simply accords with common sense.” He added, “A parliamentary investigation is just ‘waiting for Cho Hee-dae to retire at the mandatory age in June next year.’ Even if there is a parliamentary investigation, impeachment must not be put off.”
Rebuilding Korea Party spokesperson Lim Myeong-hee said, “The public has been closely watching the judiciary, deeply concerned that Kim Geonhee might be released when her detention period expired.” She added, “This decision has eased public anxiety, but the judiciary must restore public trust through an impartial trial.”
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Earlier that afternoon, the Supreme Court’s Second Division, with Justice Oh Kyung-mi presiding, held a hearing on the arrest warrant for Kim and issued the warrant on the grounds that she might “destroy evidence or flee.” The detention period for Kim, which had been set to expire on October 31, has been extended by two months.
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