People Power Party "Acting Chief Choi Sang-mok Strongly Regrets Appointment of Two Constitutional Court Justices... Accuses Opposition of Succumbing to Impeachment Threats"

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, opposed on the 31st the announcement by Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, that he would appoint two of the three Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly.

Floor leader Kwon said, "At today's Cabinet meeting, Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok announced that he would appoint Constitutional Court justices," and added, "I strongly regret this decision."

Yonhap News

He stated, "The presidential impeachment trial is a matter of national importance," and "the completeness of due process during the trial is more important than ever." Floor leader Kwon mentioned, "Regardless of whether the Constitutional Court rules to dismiss or accept the impeachment, our society will experience severe division and chaos," and added, "The only way to reduce this even slightly is to ensure procedural fairness to the fullest." He continued, "Acting Prime Minister Choi's forced appointment of Constitutional Court justices violates the constitutional principle of 'separation of prosecution and trial,'" and criticized, "Choi's decision sacrificed the constitutional principle of due process by succumbing to the opposition party's impeachment threats."

Floor leader Kwon said, "The acting president should manage state affairs and strive for stability," and added, "The forced appointment of Constitutional Court justices constitutes a significant change in the status quo." He also stated, "Prime Minister Han Duck-soo requested that the National Assembly uphold the spirit of bipartisan agreement, even at the risk of impeachment," and said, "Acting Prime Minister Choi should reconsider Prime Minister Han's decision."

Earlier, Acting Prime Minister Choi presided over a Cabinet meeting at the Government Seoul Office and appointed two candidates, Jeong Gye-seon and Jo Han-chang, out of the three Constitutional Court justice candidates elected by the National Assembly.