Park Chandae: "Nomination of South Korean Constitutional Court Justice is effectively a nomination by Yoon... Far beyond the line"

"Choo Kyung-ho Insisted on Appointing Lee Wan-gyu as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court"
"Appointing a Suspect Accused of Destroying the Constitution to an Institution That Protects the Constitution Is Absurd"

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, demanded on the 9th that Han Deok-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister, withdraw the nomination of a Constitutional Court justice.

At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Park criticized, "Acting President Han must immediately withdraw the nomination of the Constitutional Court justice reserved for the president," adding, "He has crossed the line by a wide margin." He stated, "On December 26 last year, Acting President Han refused to appoint the Constitutional Court justice nominated by the National Assembly and said that the role of the acting president is to refrain from making significant presidential decisions, including the appointment of Constitutional Court justices. However, in just four months, he reversed his words and committed the atrocity of nominating a Constitutional Court justice, which is a significant exercise of presidential authority," strongly criticizing it as "an act of constitutional destruction by Prime Minister Han, who holds only an appointed position, and a second coup."

The day before, Acting President Han nominated Lee Wan-gyu, head of the Ministry of Government Legislation, and Ham Sang-hoon, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, as Constitutional Court justices for the president's recommendation quota.

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on April 8, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Floor Leader Park also claimed that Acting President Han's nomination of the Constitutional Court justice was in accordance with the will of former President Yoon Seok-youl. He said, "Just before the emergency martial law last year, Choo Kyung-ho, former floor leader of the People Power Party (currently a member of the National Assembly), strongly insisted that Lee Wan-gyu, head of the Ministry of Government Legislation, should be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court," and argued, "Prime Minister Han's nomination of Lee is a continuation of that." He added, "Isn't it practically former President Yoon, who is accused of rebellion, who made the nomination?" and pointed out, "Lee is a suspect under investigation for charges of rebellion, and appointing a suspect accused of destroying the constitution as a justice of the Constitutional Court, which is an institution that protects the constitution, is itself absurd."

Furthermore, Floor Leader Park urged Acting President Han to promptly carry out the recommendation procedure for the Special Prosecutor for the Permanent Investigation of Rebellion. He criticized, "The recommendation request for the Special Prosecutor for the Permanent Investigation of Rebellion has not been made for over 120 days, and the Special Prosecutor for the drug investigation of Kim Geon-hee has not been appointed for 21 days, thereby obstructing the investigation of the rebellion," adding, "The price for blocking the full composition of the Constitutional Court and attempting to change the impeachment trial result of President Yoon is enormous." He warned, "Those who abandon the duty to protect the constitution and betray the trust of the people will surely pay the price."

Meanwhile, Floor Leader Park also assumed the role of acting leader of the Democratic Party as Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, stepped down from his party position to run for the presidential election.