Park Chandae "Acting Chief Choi's Appointment of Two Constitutional Court Justices is Unconstitutional"... Immediate Appointment Urged

Choi Sang-mok's Impeachment "Restraint, Delegated to Party Leadership"

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, on the 31st for announcing that he would appoint two of the three Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly, calling it "a misunderstanding of the separation of powers and an unconstitutional idea."

After the party meeting in the afternoon, Park told reporters, "The president does not have the authority to refuse the appointment of Constitutional Court justices, so it is not right for the acting prime minister to selectively appoint them."

He added, "Even if this is overturned now, the bipartisan agreement will not disappear. Acting Prime Minister Choi should immediately appoint all three Constitutional Court justices, including candidate Ma Eun-hyuk."

However, Park did not mention impeachment against Acting Prime Minister Choi. Yoon Jong-gun, the party's floor spokesperson, explained, "There are clear grounds for impeachment, so it is possible, but we are refraining for now," adding, "(The decision on impeachment) is delegated to the party leadership." When asked if they would consider impeachment if the remaining one candidate is not appointed, he drew a line, saying, "That seems to be going too far."

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Regarding Acting Prime Minister Choi's exercise of the veto power on the 'Double Special Prosecutor Laws,' known as the 'Special Prosecutor Law on the Rebellion' and the 'Special Prosecutor Law on Mrs. Kim Geon-hee,' the Democratic Party plans to push for a re-vote.

Park said, "In the past, the opposition recommended special prosecutors for the Park Geun-hye state corruption scandal, the Naegok-dong residence land suspicion, and the Druking case," warning, "Refusing the special prosecutor law will be criticized by the public as siding with the rebellion."

Kim Yong-min, deputy floor policy chief, criticized, "The five cabinet members who attended today's Cabinet meeting were also attendees of the Cabinet meeting during the December 3 rebellion, and the fact that the subjects of investigation voted to veto the special prosecutor law that could target themselves is a conflict of interest."

At the Cabinet meeting that day, Acting Prime Minister Choi announced the appointment of two of the three Constitutional Court justice candidates: Cho Han-chang (recommended by the People Power Party) and Jung Gye-seon (recommended by the Democratic Party). Regarding the other Democratic Party-recommended candidate, Ma Eun-hyuk, he said he would appoint him later if there is bipartisan agreement.

In response, floor spokesperson Yoon criticized, "Under the mediation of the Speaker of the National Assembly, it was agreed that the People Power Party would recommend two and the Democratic Party one, but Acting Prime Minister Choi is making unreasonable claims based on incorrect information."