🕰️ The Judiciary's Time and the Election's Time: What Happened in Between
👋 Introduction: When Politics and Law Collide
Hello, and welcome.
What happens when the timeline of politics and the timeline of justice crash into each other?
In South Korea today, one name sits at the center of this collision: Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party.
While elections are always political, the current controversy is deeply legal as well.
That’s because Lee is currently facing multiple high-profile court cases — including charges related to election law and major development scandals.
But it's not just the nature of the cases that matters.
It's the timing.
With the presidential election drawing near, the judiciary's decisions are being seen not only as legal moves — but as potential political interference.
⚖️ Trial Postponed: Why Was the Court Date Moved?
Recently, the Seoul High Court postponed the first hearing in Lee Jae-myung's election law violation case.
Originally set for May 15, the trial has now been rescheduled to June 18 — after the election.
The court explained:
"The rescheduling is intended to ensure equal opportunity for election campaigning and to avoid controversy over the fairness of the trial."
That kind of public explanation is rare.
Why? Because this case isn't just legal — it's now deeply political.
And it's not the only one.
Several other cases involving Lee — including the Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and Seongnam FC scandals — have also had their hearings moved to after the election.
📅 A Chain Reaction: All Court Hearings Delayed
The Daejang-dong case was originally scheduled for May 13 and 27.
Now, it too has been pushed to June 24.
These delays didn’t happen spontaneously.
Lee’s legal team formally requested the changes, citing the election campaign period.
And in most cases, the courts agreed.
One exception remains — the perjury instigation case set for May 20, which has not yet been rescheduled.
This wave of postponements has sparked strong debate.
Are these moves to protect fairness?
Or are they politically motivated delays?
💬 Voices from Inside the Judiciary: A Rare Rebellion
Perhaps the most shocking reaction has come from inside the court system itself.
At least eight sitting judges have posted their real-name criticisms of the Supreme Court’s handling of the case.
Some of their comments:
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“This kind of speed is unprecedented in my 30-year career.”
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“Why did only this case receive such accelerated treatment?”
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“This sets a dangerous political precedent.”
One judge wrote that Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae had effectively become a “political opponent” of Lee.
Another called him the “spearhead of anti-Lee political struggle.”
Many of these judges are demanding that the Chief Justice resign, saying his actions have harmed the court’s image of neutrality.
🛡️ Not Everyone Agrees: A Call to Protect Judicial Independence
Not all judges agree with the criticism.
Some warn that pushing for resignation may itself be a form of political pressure.
One Supreme Court justice testified in Parliament:
“Judicial independence must be respected — even during politically sensitive times.”
And one district judge even expressed respect for the difficult decision made by the Chief Justice.
This shows the divide — not just in public opinion, but within the judiciary itself.
🧠 Conclusion: Can the Law Truly Stay Neutral?
At the heart of this issue lies a simple yet powerful question:
Can the judiciary remain truly independent in a political world?
In theory, yes.
But in practice — especially during a presidential election — the lines get blurry.
The public now watches with suspicion, wondering whether courts are still driven by justice, or by political strategy.
The court says it will continue to follow the law, without bias.
But the trust of the people hangs in the balance.
Two clocks are ticking:
The clock of democracy, and the clock of justice.
And they are no longer in sync.
📩 What Do You Think?
Is the judiciary doing its duty, or overstepping its role?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
You can also share your opinions or report tips via:
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📧 Email: youlaw001@gmail.com
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