Constitutional Court May Conclude Impeachment Trial of Minister Lee Sang-min over 'Itaewon Tragedy' by August

Final Argument Scheduled for the 27th of This Month... One Bereaved Family Member Attends and Testifies

The Constitutional Court is expected to issue a decision within August regarding the impeachment trial of Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, requested by the National Assembly in response to the Itaewon disaster.

On the 13th, during the third hearing for Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who was impeached over the inadequate response controversy to the Itaewon disaster, Yoon Nam-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, and the constitutional justices awaited the session at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, the Constitutional Court held the third hearing for Minister Lee's impeachment trial and conducted witness examinations of Hwang Chang-seon, the Police Agency's Security Situation Manager, and Eom Jun-wook, former head of the Fire Agency's 119 Comprehensive Situation Room. The court designated August 27 as the final hearing date.

So far, the court has examined a total of four witnesses, and on the 27th, it plans to call one bereaved family member to provide about 10 minutes for testimony. The final opinions of both the National Assembly and Minister Lee's side will also be heard.

The court rejected the National Assembly's requests for an on-site inspection of the disaster scene and an expert appraisal of the meeting transcripts. However, the deadline for additional evidence submissions from both sides is set for August 20, and for various written documents, August 25.

Yoo Nam-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, stated, "Thanks to the active cooperation from both sides, through two preparatory sessions and three hearings, the main issues have been organized and argued, and a considerable amount of evidence has been examined."

The court is expected to determine whether to dismiss Minister Lee based on the content presented in the final hearing and the various written submissions from both parties.

After concluding the hearing procedures, the court will decide on dismissal if at least seven of the nine justices are present and six or more agree. If dismissal is decided, Minister Lee will be barred from holding public office for five years following the ruling.

Although the Constitutional Court Act stipulates that a decision on impeachment cases must be delivered within 180 days from the date of receipt, this is not a mandatory provision. However, as the court is swiftly concluding the hearings, expectations are growing that a decision will be made by the end of August at the latest.