Handuksoo "Constitutional Court Justice Appointment on Hold... Ruling and Opposition Politicians, Please Show Wisdom" [Full Text]

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Acting President, stated on the 26th, "I will withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court justices until the ruling and opposition parties submit an agreed proposal," adding, "Once an agreement is submitted, I will immediately appoint the Constitutional Court justices."

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering an emergency national address on the 26th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Government Office Photographers Group

Acting President Han said in an emergency national address at the Government Complex Seoul in the afternoon, "The consistent spirit embedded in our Constitution and laws is that the Acting President should refrain from exercising the President's significant exclusive powers, including the appointment of constitutional institutions," and made the remarks accordingly.

The full text of Acting President Han's national address is as follows:

Dear fellow citizens,

At a time when you should be calmly wrapping up the year and preparing for the new one, I feel heavy-hearted to cause you concern over national affairs.

South Korea is currently facing unprecedented difficulties. As the Acting President and Prime Minister, I consider my final duty to be fully committed to stable governance so that there is not a single tremor in the nation's security and the daily lives of the people as we navigate these challenges. To that end,

I will focus solely on the people and make all judgments for the future of the entire country in accordance with the Constitution and laws.

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is entering the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 26th to deliver an emergency national address. Photo by Government Office Press Photographers Group

Dear fellow citizens,

I stand here today to candidly share my concerns regarding the appointment of Constitutional Court justices, an issue that deeply interests you all.

Looking back on the path our country has taken, no matter how great the challenge, we have always overcome and surpassed it. One of the forces that made this possible was the power of politics.

Although our country has suffered many tragedies due to ideological conflicts, there have always been politicians who, beyond factional interests, thought of the nation as a whole. It is because of these great elders who resolved political issues through politics that we have come this far. Despite the many conflicts we face today, I firmly believe that political leaders from both ruling and opposition parties?including Speaker Woo Won-sik, People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman nominee Kwon Young-se, and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung?will and must demonstrate such leadership.

Unfortunately, our country is already experiencing its third Acting President system. The consistent spirit embedded in our Constitution and laws is that the Acting President should focus on stable governance to help the nation overcome crises, while refraining from exercising the President's significant exclusive powers, including appointments to constitutional institutions.

If it becomes unavoidable to exercise such powers, I believe that prior agreement between the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly, the representatives of the people, is a precedent that has never been broken in our constitutional history.

Former Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn also followed the principle of not making appointments that could influence the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, refraining from appointing Constitutional Court justices before the decision and making appointments only after the ruling was issued.

The reason why the process of agreement between the ruling and opposition parties is essential before the Acting President exercises the President's significant exclusive powers is that, when legal interpretations diverge and division and conflict are severe, and there is no time to wait for judicial decisions, the agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, as representatives of the people, is the last barrier that can secure democratic legitimacy and lead to national unity.

Dear fellow citizens,

I deeply feel the anxiety and anger that our people are experiencing due to this issue.

I believe there is hardly anyone who would disagree that one of the urgent and important matters that must be resolved promptly for the swift resolution of the situation and stable governance is the replenishment of Constitutional Court justices.

Some say, "The people are angry, so just appoint them; what's the problem?" However, unfortunately, this issue is not one that can be resolved so easily, and this is my concern.

Constitutional Court justices are constitutional institution members explicitly stated in the Constitution, and their roles and responsibilities are immense. Looking back at our history, not a single Constitutional Court justice has been appointed without agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, which attests to the gravity of the position.

Especially now, when fair judgments that determine the nation's fate and history depend on the Constitutional Court justices, a wise solution that reasonable citizens can accept without dissent regarding the composition of the Constitutional Court and the appointment of justices is absolutely necessary.

Until just a month ago, the ruling and opposition parties held different positions on replenishing the Constitutional Court justices, and even now, they remain in direct opposition.

In this situation, the opposition party is pressuring the Acting President to exercise the President's exclusive power to appoint constitutional institution members without agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

If this situation continues, there is a risk that, unless an unavoidable emergency occurs, the basic principle of our constitutional order?that the Acting President should refrain from exercising the President's exclusive powers and focus solely on stable governance?may be undermined.

Dear fellow citizens,

As Acting President and Prime Minister, I sincerely believe that I must look only to the people and make judgments for the nation's future in accordance with the Constitution and laws, and that personal position or glory is of no importance.

I earnestly appeal once again to the ruling and opposition parties.

Since its founding, the United States has had five presidents face impeachment crises over 200 years, while our country has already experienced the Acting President system three times in about 70 years. Throughout this time, I have listened widely and deeply to the opinions of ruling and opposition politicians, left and right media, constitutional scholars, and political scientists regarding the appointment of Constitutional Court justices.

The question I feel most heavily is whether it is truly consistent with our constitutional order for the Acting President to make a political decision without political agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

I find it difficult to agree with calls to reach a conclusion without properly addressing this concern. I also do not believe that finding a proper answer necessarily requires a long time.

Looking back on how our country has come this far, we have predecessors who made difficult decisions and sacrifices under even tougher circumstances, especially in politics.

As a young economic official, I felt the strength of South Korea by observing our people working hard in the Middle East and Germany, our companies creating export miracles under harsh domestic conditions, citizens and intellectuals striving for democratization, and political giants from both sides of the aisle who, for the country, sometimes insisted and sometimes compromised. I resolved to dedicate myself to work for the nation.

I earnestly ask Speaker Woo Won-sik, People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman nominee Kwon Young-se, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, and all politicians from both ruling and opposition parties to show wisdom and courage that surpass the previous generation of politicians for the next generation of Koreans watching you now, as Acting President and Prime Minister.

Until the ruling and opposition parties submit an agreed proposal, I will withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court justices. Once an agreement is submitted, I will immediately appoint the Constitutional Court justices.

Thank you.