Jeong Gye-seon: "If the Korean Acting President Does Not Appoint Judges Recommended by the National Assembly, It Will Be a Problem"

"Impeachment of an Acting Authority Possible with 'Majority' of Total Members"
"If Martial Law Troops Interfered with Lawmakers' Activities, It Would Be Unconstitutional"

Jeong Gye-seon, a nominee for the Constitutional Court Justice, claimed on the 23rd that if Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo does not appoint the Constitutional Court Justice recommended by the National Assembly, there could be a problem.

Yonhap News

Jeong, who was recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the parliamentary confirmation hearing held that day, "I understand that the Constitutional Court Justice elected by the National Assembly is stipulated to be appointed by the President without exercising a veto," expressing this view. In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Park Joo-min asking, "Do you think it is problematic for the Acting President to appoint the Constitutional Court Justice recommended by the National Assembly?" he answered, "I do not think it is problematic."

However, when asked whether it would be grounds for impeachment if Acting President Han does not make the appointment, he said, "Impeachment requires the condition of a serious violation," and added, "That part needs to be reviewed."

Jeong agreed with the National Assembly Legislative Research Office's decision regarding the quorum for the National Assembly's impeachment trial proposal against Acting President Han, stating that "if grounds for impeachment occurred while performing the Prime Minister's duties before taking on the role of Acting President, the impeachment resolution can be passed with a majority of the total members (151 votes)." He said, "Being impeached does not mean the President is gone. The President is still in office, and Acting President Han does not become the President, so I think the Legislative Research Office has reviewed this well."

In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-hee about whether the martial law troops blocking members of the National Assembly from entering the National Assembly building by force during the December 3 emergency martial law incident was an illegal act without constitutional basis, Jeong replied, "Even when martial law is declared, there are no provisions allowing any measures against the National Assembly," and added, "If the National Assembly was physically blocked and the legislative activities of members were obstructed, that would be an unconstitutional act."

Regarding reports that the targets of arrest by martial law troops during the December 3 emergency martial law incident included a sitting judge who acquitted Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in a perjury inducement case, former Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo, and former Justice Kwon Soon-il, Jeong said, "I agree that it is truly an unthinkable and shocking matter."

Jeong responded to criticism that it would be unfair if he were to handle the impeachment trial because his husband works at a foundation where former Constitutional Court Justice Kim Yi-soo, who served as co-chair of President Yoon Suk-yeol's National Assembly impeachment prosecution team, is the chairman of the board, stating that there is no problem. He explained, "My husband has been a member since the foundation's early days and has worked there for 20 years, and former Justice Kim was appointed chairman relatively recently," adding, "There is no financial relationship where I receive a salary from Chairman Kim, nor does he have personnel authority over me."