Seoul: Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de has firmly denied allegations that he discussed President Lee Jae Myung's election law violation case with external figures while Lee was still leading the Democratic Party (DP). The denial came amid political controversy surrounding the claims.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jo issued a statement through the National Court Administration on Wednesday, asserting that he never discussed the case with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo or any other external figures. Jo further clarified that he had no conversations or meetings with individuals linked to the allegations.

The controversy erupted when DP lawmaker Boo Seung-chan claimed during a parliamentary session on Tuesday that Jo met with Han, former Prosecutor General Chung Sang-myeong, and others on April 7 to discuss Lee's case. Boo alleged that Jo stated, "The Lee Jae Myung case will be handled by the Supreme Court." Jo's denial now challenges Boo to either provide evidence or withdraw his claim and accept political accountability. Despite constitutional immunity, lawmakers are not permitted to make baseless allegations without facing consequences.

DP leadership has intensified the dispute. Party leader Jung Chung-rae questioned Chief Justice Jo's ability to remain in office if Boo's allegations were true. Jung suggested that Jo seemed unfit for his role, effectively calling for his resignation. Critics argue that Jung's comments undermine the principle of separation of powers essential to democracy, as even the leader of a parliamentary majority lacks the authority to demand the judiciary's leader resign without substantiated claims.

This incident is reminiscent of a 2022 scandal when former DP lawmaker Kim Eui-kyeom, now head of the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency, alleged that President Yoon Suk Yeol and then Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon had spent a night in a Cheongdam-dong bar. A police investigation later found the claim to be false. Despite the baseless accusation, Kim faced no legal repercussions due to parliamentary immunity.

If Boo's allegations remain unaddressed, immunity could again be exploited as a shield for spreading misinformation. Lawmakers must recognize that misuse of constitutional protections for slander leads to increased public distrust in politics.