Lee Jun-seok Injunction Result Delayed to Next Week...Court Says "Decision Difficult Within This Week"

Court: "Considerable Time Required for Careful Case Review"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The court's ruling on the 'injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the Emergency Response Committee launch' filed by former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is expected to be postponed until next week.

On the 18th, the Civil Division 51 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Presiding Judge Hwang Jeong-su) stated, "Since a considerable amount of time is required for careful case review, it is difficult to make a decision within this week."

Earlier, on the 17th at 3 p.m., the court held a hearing on the injunction case filed by former leader Lee on the 10th against the People Power Party and Emergency Committee Chairman Joo Ho-young, listening to both parties' positions.

Lee's side argued, "The People Power Party's bylaws allow the Emergency Response Committee to be launched only when the party leader is vacant or the Supreme Council's functions are lost due to an emergency situation, but this is not such a case."

In response, the People Power Party stated, "The party leader's term is two years, and the suspension of authority for six months constitutes an emergency situation," adding, "With five Supreme Council members, including Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin, declaring their resignation, the Supreme Council's functions should also be considered lost."

Furthermore, Lee's side pointed out, "Assemblywomen Bae Hyun-jin and Yoon Young-seok declared their resignation from the Supreme Council but participated in the Supreme Council vote held on the 2nd," and argued, "Since the resignation declaration is a unilateral act without the other party, the resignation effect should be considered effective immediately upon declaration, and the Supreme Council decision made afterward has procedural defects."

Regarding this, the People Power Party countered, "The resignation from the Supreme Council takes effect from the time the party member submits a resignation letter to the People Power Party via phone, fax, or in person," and "Announcing resignation intentions on personal social media or to the media cannot be legally recognized as resignation."

The court is reviewing whether there are procedural or substantive defects in the Emergency Response Committee launch process after hearing both sides' opinions. The court also conveyed immediately after the hearing that it would "carefully consider and decide soon."