Constitutional Court to Hold Second Hearing on the 10th...
Key Issue: Is a National Assembly Resolution Required for Authority Dispute?
National Assembly Submits 'Confirmation Hearing Letter' as Evidence...
Choi's Side Claims "No Final Agreement"
The Constitutional Court will resume arguments regarding whether the act of Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance, not appointing Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court Justice candidate constitutes an infringement on the National Assembly's authority.
At 2 p.m. on the 10th, the Constitutional Court will hold the second hearing on the dispute over authority filed by Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, against Acting Prime Minister Choi. The Court had planned to deliver a ruling on the 3rd after concluding the hearing held on the 22nd of last month, but decided to resume arguments after accepting the Acting Prime Minister’s request for additional examination, which was made three days before the ruling.
On December 31 of last year, Acting Prime Minister Choi appointed two of the three Constitutional Court Justice candidates, Cho Han-chang and Jung Kye-seon, but withheld the appointment of candidate Ma, citing the lack of confirmed agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. In response, Speaker Woo filed a dispute over authority on the 3rd of last month, claiming that the National Assembly’s authority was infringed due to the withholding of the appointment.
The key issue in this hearing is whether a resolution by the National Assembly is required for the Assembly to file a dispute over authority. When deciding to resume the hearing, the Constitutional Court reportedly requested additional evidence regarding Speaker Woo’s claim that a plenary session resolution is necessary to file such a dispute.
Whether there was an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties concerning the recommendation of candidate Ma is also a point of contention. Speaker Woo’s side argues that there was an agreement from the People Power Party to hold a confirmation hearing for candidate Ma. They have submitted as evidence an official letter sent by the People Power Party on December 11 last year, stating their participation in the special committee for the confirmation hearing of the three Justice candidates.
On the other hand, Acting Prime Minister Choi’s side maintains that discussions were held on the premise of further talks, but there was no final agreement on the appointment of the Justices, including candidate Ma. They have reportedly submitted statements from former floor leader Choo Kyung-ho and floor leader Kwon Seong-dong of the People Power Party.
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