Judiciary needs responsibility

(EDITORIAL from JoongAng Daily on Jan. 23)



???I will defend the independence of the judiciary branch,??? Supreme Court Chief
Justice Lee Yong-hoon said. His comment was blunt, throwing down the gauntlet to
conservative political factions enraged by rulings on political and social issues
by liberal judges.

The ruling party acted promptly, launching a special committee to revise the
judiciary system this week. This rash move by the political sector without giving
the judiciary a chance to regain public trust is splitting the country???s two
main government branches. The initial fault lies with the judiciary for handing
down rulings that disagree with general public understanding of the law and
common sense. Moreover, the verdicts show clear political and ideological bias.
The bedrock of democracy is the civil law rooted in fairness and justice. The
judiciary also should take a stand on judges??? slanted sentencing and on private
groups of judges.
In one case, a court acquitted producers of ???PD Diary,??? an investigative news
program of Munwha Broadcasting Corporation, on charges of defaming the government
and obstructing imports of U.S. beef. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that
the reports that sent the entire population into a frenzied scare over American
beef by raising suspicion about mad cow disease for months may have been
???overstated, but not entirely without grounds.???
The ruling is bewildering and disconcerting. People were led to believe they may
catch mad cow disease by eating U.S. beef. The press must be held accountable.
The Korea Communication Standard Commission had ordered the news program to
apologize to viewers for its misguided reporting. The Seoul High Court last year
had ordered the network to correct the falsified report. But a district court
reversed the ruling, baffling the public on what???s right and wrong.
A couple of days earlier, a Jeonju District Court acquitted members of the North
Jeolla branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers??? Union for
protesting against government policies despite their civil service status. The
Supreme Court six years ago had ruled such a teachers??? protest as ???evident
political activity.??? But the local court placed heavier weight on ???freedom of
expression.???
The people are obviously concerned about the series of incomprehensible rulings.
We therefore call for measures from the judiciary to ease public concerns. The
judiciary???s authority stands on its verdicts. The sovereignty of the judiciary
is guaranteed not for the judges but for the people.

(END)

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