Election pledges targeting institutions risk undermining trust
Published: 30 May. 2025, 00:00
Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI
![Left: Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung speaks at a campaign rally in Jeju on May 22. Right: People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on the same day. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/05/30/7005c32f-c9df-48a0-83b1-1ad52369b137.jpg)
Left: Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung speaks at a campaign rally in Jeju on May 22. Right: People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on the same day. [NEWS1]
The DP included the proposals in its campaign platform under the theme of “overcoming insurrection and restoring democracy.” Confusion followed, however, as the party had recently withdrawn a bill that called for appointing nonlawyers to the Supreme Court and expanding the bench to 100 justices. That proposal had drawn criticism for allegedly seeking to dominate the judiciary. DP candidate Lee Jae-myung distanced himself from the measure, saying, “It wasn’t my idea, and now is not the time.”
In defending the broader pledge, the party stated that reforming the judiciary and increasing the number of justices is a longstanding task, not a political move. But with Lee currently facing a Supreme Court review after a lower court’s guilty ruling, the timing of such promises calls for caution. The party’s approach risks undermining the credibility of its judicial reform agenda.
A separate pledge to allow prosecutors to be dismissed through disciplinary action has also drawn alarm. Under current law, prosecutors can only be removed through impeachment or if sentenced to imprisonment. These restrictions aim to protect prosecutorial independence from political interference. While political bias in prosecution is a legitimate concern, weakening legal safeguards could expose investigations to undue pressure. The DP’s previous attempt to impeach a prosecutor using its legislative majority, later rejected by the Constitutional Court, already raised questions. Persisting with this approach could be seen as disregarding the existing legal order.
![The Supreme Court of Korea in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on May 14 [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/05/30/10f5766e-305a-4f80-a736-ee1446d4814c.jpg)
The Supreme Court of Korea in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on May 14 [YONHAP]
After months of political upheaval — martial law, impeachment, criminal trials — Korea’s legal system remains intact. As the election approaches, candidates must avoid pledges that appear rushed or retaliatory. Institutional reform deserves thoughtfulness, not partisanship.
Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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