Presidential Office Hires Lawyer Chaemyungseong, 'Park Impeachment Shield,' as Senior Administrative Officer

Acting as Park's Impeachment Proxy... Expert in Impeachment Law and Procedure
Democratic Party Pushes Ahead with 'Impeachment Hearing'... Yongsan Takes Hardline Response

On May 16, 2017, Cha Myung-sung, the lawyer of former President Park Geun-hye, is heading to the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the second preparatory hearing for former President Park is being held.
(Photo by Yonhap News)

The Presidential Office recently hired attorney Chae Myung-sung (Judicial Research and Training Institute class 36), who served as a representative for former President Park Geun-hye during her impeachment trial, as a senior administrative officer. This move is interpreted as the Presidential Office's intention to concretize its impeachment defense arguments amid the Democratic Party of Korea's increasing pressure for President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment.

According to a Presidential Office official, Attorney Chae has been working as a senior administrative officer in the Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs since early this month. Although the Office of the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs was abolished with President Yoon’s inauguration, it was reinstated last May after the general election defeat to strengthen 'legal assistance' and 'public sentiment listening' capabilities.

Senior Administrative Officer Chae was appointed as a member of the defense team for former President Park during the impeachment trial in December 2016 and defended her until the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove the president in March 2017. Having overseen the nation’s first presidential impeachment trial from start to finish, he possesses extensive experience and knowledge of related legal principles, procedures, and practical matters.

Analysts suggest that the Presidential Office’s hiring of Senior Administrative Officer Chae is also related to the growing public opinion for President Yoon’s impeachment led by the major opposition party.

The Democratic Party is pushing for impeachment hearings on the 19th and 26th of this month, citing a petition for President Yoon’s impeachment signed by over one million citizens. The hearing on the 19th will address allegations of investigation interference in the death of Chae Sang-byeong, and the hearing on the 26th will cover allegations of stock manipulation involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee.

Since it is not possible to immediately file an impeachment motion, the party appears to be aiming to gradually initiate impeachment discussions through hearings and public opinion campaigns.

The Presidential Office has announced it will refuse to participate in the hearings, stating that the issues raised in the petition do not constitute constitutional grounds for impeachment. A Presidential Office official told reporters, "The Presidential Office has never compromised on matters with unconstitutional implications," adding, "We cannot comply with unconstitutional and illegal hearings."

Senior Administrative Officer Chae was born in 1978 and graduated from Busan Yangjeong High School and Seoul National University School of Law. After passing the bar exam, he worked at the Ministry of Justice, Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, and the law firm Hwawoo.