Supporters of former President Park Geun-hye lost again in the second trial of a lawsuit filed against the constitutional justices who participated in the decision to dismiss Park and the state, claiming they suffered mental damages due to the dismissal decision.
Former President Park Geun-hye being discharged from Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and moving to the National Cemetery. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
On the 14th, the 11-2 Civil Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Jang Yoon-seon, Jo Yong-rae, Lee Chang-yeol) ruled against Woo Jong-chang, a former Monthly Chosun reporter, and three others in the appeal of their damages claim lawsuit against the constitutional justices and the state regarding the dismissal decision of former President Park. The court also denied the plaintiffs' request to resume arguments.
In March 2017, the Constitutional Court unanimously accepted the impeachment petition against former President Park Geun-hye. Woo and 479 others filed a lawsuit in April 2017 seeking approximately 140 million won in damages, claiming that the Constitutional Court misjudged the facts and caused them mental suffering by deciding to dismiss former President Park.
Earlier, the first trial court ruled against the plaintiffs in November 2022.
At that time, the court stated, "For the state to be held liable for damages due to the official acts of constitutional justices, there must be special circumstances recognizing that the judges made decisions with illegal or improper intent, or exercised their authority unlawfully by significantly violating the standards required by law." It added, "Based solely on the evidence submitted by the plaintiffs, it is difficult to conclude that such special circumstances exist."
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