Regarding the Nomination of Han Deok-su's Constitutional Court Justice Successor... Opposition Park Ji-won Says "They Are Collecting Impeachment Fees"

Senior Lawmakers on Judiciary Committee Launch Fierce Criticism
Park Beomgye: "An Overreach Beyond Acting Authority"
Jeong Cheongrae: "This Nomination Is Illegal and Invalid"

Prime Minister and Acting President Han Deok-su's nomination of two successors for Constitutional Court justices immediately drew criticism from senior Democratic Party lawmakers on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Yonhap News

On the 8th, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won criticized the acting president on his Facebook post, saying, "Acting President Han is digging his own impeachment grave" by appointing successors for the Constitutional Court justices.

Earlier, Acting President Han stated, "I have nominated Lee Wan-gyu, head of the Ministry of Legislation, and Ham Sang-hoon, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, as successors to Moon Hyung-bae, acting chief justice of the Constitutional Court whose term ends in ten days, and Justice Lee Mi-sun." He also appointed Ma Eun-hyuk, a Constitutional Court justice candidate elected by the National Assembly, and Ma Yong-joo, a Supreme Court justice candidate.

Lawmaker Park pointed out, "The unconstitutional Han Deok-su appointed Justice Ma and Supreme Court Justice Ma," adding, "Although I was skeptical, appointing two new Constitutional Court justices as acting president is a clear mistake."

He continued, "Did he use the Ma Eun-hyuk card to appoint two new Constitutional Court justices?" and "In particular, the head of the Ministry of Legislation is a close aide of the rebel leader Yoon Seok-yeol, participated in the meeting of the 'Four in the Safe House' after the lifting of martial law as the head of the Ministry of Legislation, and later changed his phone, making him a subject of investigation for supporting the rebellion."

He sarcastically added, "Is this a covert appointment by Yoon Seok-yeol's rebel faction?" and "Exercising the president's nomination rights beyond authority is like Usain Bolt running a turtle race; appointing Ma Eun-hyuk is a turtle willing to endure unconstitutionality."

Park Beom-gye, the opposition party's secretary of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, also criticized on Facebook, saying, "Acting President Han's nomination of Constitutional Court justices in the president's quota is an overreach beyond his authority," and "Despite the fact that the first subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed a bill to prevent this, he pushed ahead with the nominations." He described it as "a provocation that completely disregards the will of the National Assembly, which holds the greatest democratic legitimacy after impeachment."

Committee chairman Jeong Cheong-rae also questioned on Facebook, "Han Deok-su is not the president and has no right to nominate Constitutional Court justices," asking, "Is the prime minister pretending to be the president?" He added, "The nomination of Constitutional Court justices is illegal and invalid," urging, "Please come to your senses."