Woo Won-sik "Trust and Support for Constitutional System Will Protect the Democratic Republic"

"Impeachment of President Yoon: A Procedure to Realize Popular Sovereignty and Democracy"
"Acting President Choi Should Proceed with the Appointment Process for Constitutional Court Justice Ma Eunhyuk"

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik emphasized the need to respect the Constitutional Court's ruling and to accept the constitutional system in relation to the severe social turmoil following the December 3 emergency martial law.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly on the same day, Speaker Woo stated, "Since December, our society has experienced extreme chaos," adding, "The conflicts and confrontations arising from differences in opinion have exceeded the level permitted by democracy, denying the constitution and judicial system and involving violence. If such incidents are tolerated and repeated, there is a growing sense of crisis that even the minimal foundation for the existence of the state and the maintenance of the community could collapse."

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He continued, "The impeachment trial is not a matter of ideology or political victory or defeat," emphasizing, "As the Constitutional Court has ruled, the impeachment system embodies the principle of the rule of law that no one is above the law and serves as a mechanism to uphold the constitution. This fact is very important." Speaker Woo stressed, "Public trust and support for the constitutional system are the forces that protect the democratic republic from further chaos and danger and safeguard the daily lives of the people," adding, "The process of healing and recovery will begin right here."

He said, "The Republic of Korea has the capacity to restore the constitutional order in a democratic and peaceful manner," and urged, "While respecting the freedom of political opinions, we must take a step forward toward a mature democracy that excludes violence, respects the right to criticize opponents, and opposes hatred." He added, "This can be a hope for democracy worldwide, which is currently in crisis," and said, "I believe that politics and the National Assembly have a mission on the path that will become everyone's pride."

Regarding the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol, currently underway at the Constitutional Court due to the emergency martial law, he said, "As the petitioner of the impeachment, the National Assembly has faithfully participated in the trial," adding, "The National Assembly's arguments were part of fulfilling its mission to uphold the constitution and efforts to realize popular sovereignty and democracy. Now, the National Assembly is waiting humbly for the Constitutional Court's final decision."

On the controversy over the quorum for the resolution related to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is acting president with suspended duties due to impeachment by the National Assembly, he explained, "The method of deciding the quorum in the plenary session has no legal procedure or method to realize it, and it is difficult to consider it as a preliminary process for quorum judgment in terms of practical normative desirability," adding, "The controversy arose because, in the case of the impeachment target being the acting president, there is no quorum regulation in the constitution, so it ultimately became a matter of constitutional interpretation. Neither the constitution nor the National Assembly Act provides a procedure or method to submit a motion to decide the quorum for a specific agenda item." He further explained, "For these reasons, the Speaker proceeded with the session based on reviews of current laws, opinions from the Constitutional Law Association, and the National Assembly Legislative Research Office." Previously, Speaker Woo had applied the quorum standard for cabinet member impeachment (majority of total members) rather than the president's standard (two-thirds of total members) for the impeachment motion against Acting President Han.

Meanwhile, regarding the Constitutional Court's final decision on the appointment of Constitutional Court Justice Ma Eun-hyuk, Speaker Woo stated, "I request Acting President Choi to promptly proceed with the appointment process of Justice Ma to complete the restoration of the nine-member Constitutional Court."