[2024 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over 'Constitutional Court Justice Vacancy'... Constitutional Court Urges "Avoid Vacancy Crisis"

Kim Jung-won, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, expressed concern regarding the vacancy of three constitutional justices starting from the 18th, stating that "it is best to avoid a vacancy situation."

On the morning of the 11th, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's national audit was held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. From the left, Kim Jeong-won, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, Lee Jong-seok, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, and Ji Seong-su, President of the Constitutional Court Research Institute.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 11th, during the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee's audit of the Constitutional Court, Kim responded to People Power Party lawmaker Song Seok-jun's remark that "the national damage caused by the vacancy of justices is unimaginably great."

According to Article 23 of the Constitutional Court Act, the court requires the attendance of at least seven out of nine justices to deliberate on cases. However, since the successors to Chief Justice Lee Jong-seok and Justices Lee Young-jin and Kim Ki-young, whose terms expire on the 17th, have not been confirmed, no deliberations can take place.

The three vacant seats are to be appointed by the National Assembly. However, the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have yet to decide how many candidates each will recommend, resulting in no successors being appointed yet.

On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Cho Bae-sook pointed out, "The reason the National Assembly holds the right to recommend constitutional justices is to respect the spirit of the separation of powers stipulated in the Constitution during the process of selecting the last bastion to protect the constitutional order," and criticized, "The Democratic Party of Korea is politicizing the National Assembly's recommendation right."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Yong-min said regarding the appointment of successors, "The ruling and opposition parties are almost in agreement. The appointment process will soon proceed," and added, "The Constitutional Court should wait for the discussions."