South Korea's Democratic Party Advances Court Packing, Overturns Lee Jae-Myung Election Violation Amid Supreme Court Trial Postponement

In South Korea, the Democratic Party (DP) has intensified its legislative efforts following the Supreme Court's decision to postpone the trial of its presidential candidate Lee Jae-Myung until after the upcoming snap election. The DP has passed legislation aimed at overturning the election law violation for which Lee was found guilty, effectively removing barriers to his candidacy. This move has drawn criticism from the Ministry of Justice, which warned of potential constitutional issues with the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act. The party also plans a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on May 14, signaling a confrontational stance toward the judiciary. Legal professionals and media commentators have expressed concerns about the erosion of the separation of powers and judicial independence, citing the judiciary's apparent retreat under political pressure. Additionally, there are calls from some quarters for the resignation of Chief Justice Cho and Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung amid the ongoing controversy. The DP has proposed increasing the number of Supreme Court justices from 14 to 30, a move described as court packing, further escalating tensions between the legislative and judicial branches. Despite these developments, Lee Jae-Myung remains eligible to run in the presidential election, avoiding last-minute disqualification risks.