(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Oct. 27)

The Democratic Party's recent actions may be overshadowing crucial economic and housing issues, according to an editorial in Korea JoongAng Daily. The party plans to initiate a parliamentary probe into Chief Justice Jo Hee-de and introduce legislation for a special counsel bill, primarily to counter perceived fabricated indictments.

Party spokesperson Park Sung-joon confirmed these priorities, noting that they would follow the National Assembly's annual audit. This move comes in response to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's acquittal on appeal in a political funding case, involving allegations that someone else funded opinion polls conducted by political broker Myung Tae-kyun.

The DP also aims to pass legislation investigating alleged fabricated prosecutions, including cases linked to President Lee Jae Myung. Critics argue that the ruling party's use of legislative power to target the judiciary undermines the separation of powers and judicial independence. The party may also consider nominating Reps. Park Kyoon-taek and Yang Bu-nam, who have strongly defended the president against legal allegations, for the Justice Ministry position, raising concerns about potential bias.

Despite modest improvement in public approval, the president's support remains low, and the Democratic Party's approval has reportedly dropped below that of the opposition. Meanwhile, the administration's failure to address housing policies, a key concern for voters, has exacerbated difficulties for renters and small business owners.

With public confidence in government institutions at risk, the ruling party's focus on impeaching the chief justice and removing criminal charges against the president appears to prioritize protecting its political interests over addressing citizens' daily struggles.