Ruling Party Also Doubts 'Cho Hee-dae Inquiry'... Opposition Calls It "Impeachment Trigger"

The ruling party has formally announced plans to pursue a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Cho Hee-dae, but even within its own ranks, there are doubts about whether it will be effective. Some worry that it could instead fuel further setbacks, including divisions within the broader ruling bloc and falling approval ratings. The opposition, which is benefiting from the backlash, is warning of a public backlash and preparing to mount an all-out response.

Chief Justice Cho Heedae arrives for work at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 28. The Democratic Party of Korea decided at a general meeting of lawmakers on Oct. 27 to launch a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Cho to clarify the circumstances surrounding his refusal to renominate Supreme Court justices and allegations of improper spending of work-related expenses. 2026.10.28. Photo by Kang Jinhyeong.

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appeared on Democratic Party TV on the 28th and commented on the party's decision at a general meeting of lawmakers to conduct a parliamentary investigation into Chief Justice Cho. "This was chosen because, given the public-opinion landscape surrounding past impeachment proceedings, we need to build a stronger objective basis," he said. "Broadly speaking, I think it would be better to focus on people's livelihoods."

The party chose this alternative to calls for impeachment from its hard-line faction and the Rebuilding Korea Party because public sentiment has become a serious concern. With approval ratings continuing to plunge, the party would also have to bear the fallout if the Constitutional Court rejected or dismissed an impeachment motion. This is why some within the party have argued that it "should focus on people's livelihoods during the budget session."

If the parliamentary investigation ends up being little more than a hollow exercise, tensions within the broader ruling bloc could intensify further. "Ultimately, it's just a stopgap measure," a source in the broader ruling bloc said. "There are already many sources of conflict, including allegations of mass membership enrollment by a religious organization. The ruling party's leadership could be shaken depending on how it responds during the budget session."

The opposition is warning of a backlash, calling the investigation "the trigger for impeaching President Lee Jae-myung." It claims the move is groundwork for dropping the indictment. The opposition is also considering every option, including a boycott of the National Assembly and street protests. The People Power Party believes it can gain the upper hand in public opinion, given that the ruling party's move targets the head of the judiciary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.