Woo Won-sik: "Constitutional Court Rules Ma Eun-hyeok's Non-Appointment Unconstitutional... Han Deok-su Must Be Appointed Immediately"

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik expressed on the 24th that he "respects" the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the impeachment of Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

On the same day, Speaker Woo conveyed his respect for the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding Acting President Han, also appreciating the Court's judgment that the quorum for the Acting President's resolution should be a majority of the total members of the National Assembly, as he had previously determined, and that Han's failure to appoint Constitutional Court justices was a violation of the Constitution and laws.

Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who returned to duty following the Constitutional Court's dismissal of the impeachment, is delivering a public address at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

He stated, "There have been various interpretations regarding the quorum required for the impeachment resolution against the Prime Minister acting as President, but the Constitutional Court clarified that, according to Article 65, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, a majority of the total members of the National Assembly is sufficient," adding, "With today's decision by the Constitutional Court, not only the legality of the National Assembly's resolution but also the gap in constitutional interpretation has been resolved."

He also highlighted the Constitutional Court's judgment that the failure to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice was a violation of the Constitution and laws. Speaker Woo said, "The Constitutional Court clearly stated that 'the failure of the respondent to appoint the three justices to be elected by the National Assembly constitutes a breach of specific affirmative duties under the Constitution and laws, thereby violating the Constitution and laws,'" and added, "The government's refusal to accept the Constitutional Court's constitutional judgment is an inappropriate act that undermines the rule of law, and a precedent where the Court's judgment is not implemented must never be established. I hope the Prime Minister will immediately appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a candidate for Constitutional Court justice."