"Moon Hyung-bae Dismisses Yoon's Request for Three-Minute Statement"
While the Constitutional Court is deliberating on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol, Lee Young-rim (54, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 30), Chuncheon District Prosecutor, criticized it as "worse than Japanese judges under Japanese colonial rule."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking as the respondent at his seventh impeachment trial held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 11th. February 11, 2025. Photo by the Constitutional Court
On the 12th, Prosecutor Lee posted an article titled "Watching the Constitutional Court Worse Than Japanese Judges Under Japanese Colonial Rule" on the internal prosecution network, E-Pros.
Prosecutor Lee said, "I thought the attitude of judges who lack respect for procedures or mental composure is worse than that of Japanese judges under Japanese colonial rule, and it also seemed like a disgraceful appearance of a 21st-century constitutional institution in the Republic of Korea," adding, "Isn't listening a basic quality of legal professionals who judge other people's lives?"
Prosecutor Lee particularly criticized Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae of the Constitutional Court for restricting President Yoon Seok-yeol's right to speak during the 6th impeachment trial hearing. He referred to the case when An Jung-geun gave a final statement lasting an hour and a half during his trial after assassinating Ito Hirobumi, saying, "Judge Moon Hyung-bae dismissed the president's request for a three-minute speaking opportunity after witness examination at the 6th hearing by saying, 'No. Please leave.'"
He added, "This attitude starkly contrasted with the same day's granting of additional speaking opportunities to Jeong Cheong-rae, a petitioner and member of the Democratic Party."
Prosecutor Lee said, "Even in criminal trials, opportunities are sometimes given to directly question witnesses, so no matter how much I try to understand the reason for disallowing this in constitutional trials, I cannot readily find a reasonable explanation with my common sense," adding, "Isn't the Republic of Korea the strongest in procedural law? Unless someone is being made a scapegoat for another's benefit, the Constitutional Court should provide a convincing answer to the public."
He also pointed out, "The current Constitutional Court is already under suspicion for the qualifications and attitudes of some judges due to bias issues, yet it is proceeding with procedural and evidentiary matters in its own way and interpretation," and expressed concern that "the Constitutional Court may become subject to public judgment due to unconstitutional and illegal acts."
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