The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) won the final victory in a lawsuit against the Presidential Office regarding the refusal to disclose information on the Presidential Office's operational regulations.
According to the legal community on the 14th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Oh Seok-jun) confirmed the lower court's ruling in favor of the plaintiff by dismissing the appeal without oral argument in the lawsuit filed by PSPD against the Chief Presidential Secretary for refusing to disclose information. In January 2023, the Presidential Office had filed a defamation complaint against former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Eui-gyeom, who raised allegations of stock manipulation involving Mrs. Kim.
In response, PSPD questioned whether the Legal Secretary's Office, which assists the President, could file a complaint related to Mrs. Kim's personal matters and requested disclosure of information regarding the "Regulations on the Operation of the Presidential Secretariat."
However, the Presidential Office decided not to disclose the information, citing concerns that revealing security-related internal regulations could hinder fair business operations, leading PSPD to file a lawsuit.
The courts of first and second instance ruled that it was difficult to acknowledge any disruption to business operations and that the procedures through which each department of the Secretariat handles tasks are matters of public interest requiring citizens' oversight and control, ordering disclosure. The Supreme Court upheld this ruling.
On the same day, PSPD urged, "The Presidential Office should no longer undermine the principles of the rule of law and must immediately disclose the list of Presidential Office staff and operational regulations in accordance with the Supreme Court's final ruling."
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