4 parties push for special court to deal with judicial scandal

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- Four parties, including the ruling Democratic Party (DP), on Thursday called for the establishment of a special court to try a judicial power abuse case involving the Supreme Court and its former chief.

The Supreme Court under ex-Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae is alleged to have sought to use politically sensitive trials in persuading senior presidential aides to then-conservative President Park Geun-hye to support Yang's bid to establish a court of appeals.

Under Yang's direction, the National Court Administration, the top court's administration affairs body, allegedly devised plans to influence politically sensitive trials to the advantage of then-President Park.

Park was ousted early last year over corruption charges and is now in jail.

The ruling DP, the minor conservative Bareunmirae Party, the liberal Party for Democracy and Peace and the leftist Justice Party said they will jointly push for the establishment of a special panel of judges to fairly deal with the unprecedented judicial scandal.

"Considering the development in the probe into the case, we cannot help raising doubts over whether a local court has a willingness to reveal the truth. The court has rejected arrest warrants for those responsible for the scandal without proper reasons," the parties said in a joint statement.

"It has been four months since prosecutors investigated the case. Judicial reform cannot be delayed further," they said.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), which Park was once affiliated with, did not join the move.

According to a special bill submitted by a DP lawmaker, a recommendation committee that includes the bar association selects three incumbent judges for the establishment of a special judge panel. They will be named by the Supreme Court Justice and will delve into the case.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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