Constitutional Court "Considering Nationally Significant Issues, Sets Special Date"
Ruling Delivered 167 Days After Impeachment Proposal... Impeachment Approval Means 'Dismissal'
The decision on whether to dismiss Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who was impeached for inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster, will be made on the 25th. It has been 167 days since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against the minister.
The formal constitutional court hearing for Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety, who was impeached amid controversy over the inadequate response to the Itaewon disaster, was held on the afternoon of May 9 at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Minister Lee Sang-min is seated, looking at the constitutional justices. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
On the 20th, the Constitutional Court announced, "Considering the national significance of the matter, we have scheduled a special session for a swift trial and designated the verdict date for the impeachment trial of the minister as 2 p.m. on the 25th."
The prosecution investigating whether there were problems in the response to the Itaewon disaster, the police preparing disciplinary actions against related personnel, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, where important decisions have been delayed due to the minister's prolonged absence, are all closely watching the outcome of the minister's impeachment trial.
The Constitutional Court is focusing on whether the minister violated the obligations of pre-disaster prevention measures and post-disaster response measures, and whether there were inappropriate remarks or actions after the disaster occurred as key issues in the impeachment trial.
If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment, the minister will be immediately dismissed. Should the court find that the minister violated the obligations of prevention and response during the Itaewon disaster, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is expected to suffer a significant blow. Conversely, if the court dismisses the impeachment, criticism is expected to be directed at the Democratic Party, which led the impeachment motion.
Previously, the Constitutional Court held four public hearings to listen to the arguments of both the National Assembly and the minister. Officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, the Fire Agency, and bereaved families of the Itaewon disaster were called as witnesses and gave testimonies. However, the court did not accept the on-site inspection requested by the National Assembly.
Within and outside the legal community, there is speculation that the Constitutional Court may set a lower standard for what constitutes a ‘serious legal violation’ warranting dismissal from public office for appointed ministers.
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