Seo's call for mayor's imprisonment draws People Power Party objections over judicial pressure

Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo, chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said Seoul's mayor, identified here as A, should receive a prison sentence a day before the appellate ruling in a case involving allegations that polling expenses were paid on his behalf. The People Power Party objected that the committee chair's remarks put pressure on the judiciary.

Seo posted a statement on Facebook on the 22nd in her capacity as committee chair. She called for Mayor A to receive a prison sentence and argued that he should leave office because improper political funding had been paid on his behalf.

People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo, the opposition's lead member on the committee, criticized the statement during the parliamentary audit, pointing out that the courts were subject to the audit and that a comprehensive audit remained scheduled for the following Monday. He characterized the committee chair's statement during the audit as legislative intimidation of the judiciary.

Park said that respect for judicial independence generally prompted caution about expressing opinions on trial outcomes or commenting even after rulings. He criticized the committee chair's demand for a particular sentence in a case due to be decided the next day, saying he could not understand it.

Seo replied that she was both a Seoul resident and a lawmaker representing Seoul. She challenged Park's criticism by asking what was wrong with calling on the court to make a proper judgment.