Ruling and opposition parties continue disagreements over Constitutional Court justice appointments after National Policy Council talks... Kwon Seong-dong and Lee Jae-myung to meet tomorrow

Intense Power Struggle for National Governance Leadership
Ruling Party Leads 'Party-Government Consultations' Proposed by Democratic Party
Opposition Calls Kwon Seong-dong's Claim "Merely Wordplay"

The People Power Party and the Democratic Party are engaged in a daily power struggle to take the lead in national governance. The Democratic Party previously proposed the formation of a 'National Stability Consultative Body' involving both the National Assembly and the government, but the People Power Party opposed the formation of a consultative body led by the opposition and stated that it would stabilize the political situation through party-government consultations. There is also a clear difference in stance regarding the appointment of the constitutionally recommended constitutional court justice candidates, who are currently vacant.

On the 17th, the Democratic Party once again urged the People Power Party to accept the National Stability Consultative Council. Jin Seong-jun, the Democratic Party's Policy Committee Chair, said at a party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "On the 15th, Representative Lee Jae-myung proposed the National Stability Consultative Body. If it is difficult, we suggested forming it limited to the livelihood and economic sectors."

The People Power Party plans to hold party-government consultations dealing with current issues by starting with high-level party-government meetings and then holding working-level party-government meetings by standing committees instead of the consultative council proposed by the Democratic Party. On the 20th, a 'High-level Party-Government Consultation for National Stability' will also be held, attended by Acting President Han Deok-su and the Prime Minister.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The two parties also disagreed over the appointment of three constitutionally recommended constitutional court justice candidates, currently vacant. Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, claimed at the meeting that "Acting President Han cannot appoint constitutional court justices until President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment decision is made." Kwon interpreted that since President Yoon is under suspension of duty, not vacancy, Acting President Han cannot appoint constitutional court justices on his behalf. He cited precedent, saying, "In the past, Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn appointed constitutional court justice Lee Seon-hye, recommended by the Supreme Court, only after the impeachment motion was finally accepted by the Constitutional Court."

On the other hand, the Democratic Party directly refuted Kwon's claim. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party Floor Leader, said at the party strategy meeting that day, "According to Article 111 of the Constitution, the three current vacancies are the National Assembly's recommendation quota, so if the National Assembly recommends, the president only proceeds with the appointment process," and "The claim that the acting president cannot appoint (constitutional court justices) during the president's suspension of duty is just wordplay." The Democratic Party held a party members' meeting the day before and planned to conduct confirmation hearings for the three vacant constitutional court justice candidates on the 23rd and 24th of this month and to hold a plenary session of the National Assembly on the 30th to appoint them promptly.

Amid the sharp tensions between the People Power Party, trying to maintain its ruling party status, and the Democratic Party, seeking to highlight its presence as the main opposition, attention is focused on the meeting between Representative Lee and Acting President Han on the 18th.