Exclusive: Democratic Party Lawmakers Take Commemorative Photos at Supreme Court

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea belonging to the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee were found to have forcibly ...

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea belonging to the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee were found to have forcibly conducted an on-site inspection of the Supreme Court and taken commemorative photos at the Supreme Court building. The People Power Party responded, “They forcibly conducted an illegal on-site inspection, wandering around the Supreme Court and taking ‘commemorative photos,’” and questioned, “Is this an on-site inspection for show?”

According to sources familiar with the matter on the 16th, the previous day, lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea and the Rebuilding Korea Party filmed photos while moving around the Supreme Court, claiming they would conduct an on-site inspection. Aides accompanied the lawmakers during their inspection route and even filmed short videos for YouTube Shorts. Some aides were reportedly stopped by security staff while filming videos inside a courtroom.

The previous day, Choo Mi-ae, the Democratic Party of Korea’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairperson, attempted an on-site inspection of the Supreme Court around 12 p.m., stating, “We will verify the legitimacy of the process of the full bench’s remand decision.” People Power Party lawmakers protested, calling it “the moment the separation of powers collapses” and an “unconstitutional and illegal audit.” However, Chairperson Choo requested guidance from Chun Dae-yup, head of the National Court Administration, and the pro-government lawmakers proceeded to the 6th floor of the Supreme Court, where the National Court Administration’s office is located. They gathered in groups near a commemorative sculpture monument and took group photos. They were reported to have urged each other to take photos first, saying, “You go first.”

Democratic Party lawmakers later toured the main courtroom and smaller courtrooms on the 2nd floor and the Justice’s office on the 9th floor for about 20 minutes starting around 3:30 p.m. Aides accompanied the committee members during this route, taking photos and videos. When security staff intervened, saying, “Video recording is not allowed,” they argued, “Aren’t you not filming for personal business?”

Some Democratic Party lawmakers uploaded related videos to their personal YouTube channels after the on-site audit. Chairperson Choo posted a 17-second short video titled ‘Conducting an On-Site Inspection at the Supreme Court’ on her personal YouTube channel ‘Choo Mi-aeTV.’ The video shows Chairperson Choo being guided by Chun Dae-yup, head of the National Court Administration, as she exits the main courtroom on the 2nd floor of the Supreme Court and heads toward a smaller courtroom. She also posted her personal support account. Representative Seo Young-kyo uploaded a video of lawmakers exchanging greetings in front of the main gate after completing the inspection, writing, “Finishing the Supreme Court audit: Seo Young-kyo, Choo Mi-ae, Kim Ki-pyo.” The background music featured PSY’s song ‘Champion.’

Na Kyung-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, met with reporters and said, “Democratic Party lawmakers wandered all over the Supreme Court,” adding, “It was reminiscent of Hitler taking a commemorative photo in front of the Eiffel Tower after occupying Paris.”

Joo Jin-woo, another People Power Party lawmaker, also released photos of Democratic Party lawmakers climbing up to the Supreme Court’s bench—the seat of the Justice—and criticized, “They trampled the judiciary.” The Supreme Court bench is considered a symbol of the judiciary. He stated, “(The Democratic Party lawmakers) even stepped onto the bench in the main courtroom, a symbol of judicial independence,” and called it “a symbolic scene of the powerful Democratic Party trampling the judiciary to create acquittals for those in power.”