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How to protect the boss from his judicial risks

Published: 11 Jun. 2024, 20:00

Former Vice Gyeonggi Governor Lee Hwa-young who worked under Gov. Lee Jae-myung for North Korea-related peacemaking role was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months on multiple charges, including illicit fundraising and remittance of money to North Korea. The majority Democratic Party (DP), currently led by Lee Jae-myung, called the ruling “brimmed with arrogance and malicious design.” Die-hard supporters of Lee disclosed the names of the bench for slanderous attacks. These behaviors defying the independent role of the judiciary do not match a dominant party in the legislature.

The Suwon District Court found Lee Hwa-young guilty of arranging Ssangbangwool Group’s handover of $2.3 million to North Korean officials to lobby for his boss’s visit to North Korea and slapped a heavy jail term of more than 9 years onto him. Judge-turned-DP Rep. Kim Seung-won wrote on Facebook that the ruling brimmed with “biased values, prejudice and arrogance,” accusing the bench of being “swamped by polluted evidence.” The lawmaker even said the ruling underscores the need for judiciary reform. His posting drew applauding comments demanding impeachment of the head judge.

The DP leadership joined the chorus of judiciary condemnation. “What a prosecutor, and what a judge!” cried floor leader Park Chan-dae, stressing that the country now needs to elect judges. Lawyer-turned-lawmaker Kim Dong-ah — who had defended Jeong Jin-sang, Lee Jae-myung’s former aide for political affairs, over the scandal related to the Daejangdong redevelopment project — attacked the bench for “dismissing the truth” and “exonerating the political prosecution.” Pro-Lee community sites went so far as to disclose the name of the head judge to campaign for impeachment.

The DP praised the court when a judge last year turned down the prosecution’s request for a pre-trial arrest of Lee Jae-myung. Such self-righteous action comes from arrogance after its sweeping victory in the April 10 parliamentary elections. Some moderates in the party are calling for restraint in the attack towards the judiciary, as it undermines the Constitution-based order.

After suspicions arose over the prosecution cajoling Lee Hwa-young over drinks into accepting his guilt, Lee Jae-myung ferociously attacked the prosecution. But he kept mum after the court’s ruling against his deputy. He attended a trial on the allegation of committing subornation of perjury with his mouth shut. He may also face an additional count of bribing a third party, North Korea, in return for his visit to Pyongyang. As the leader of the majority opposition, Lee Jae-myung must makes his position clear with regard to the ruling on his deputy.