PPP: "Lee Jaemyung Is Deluded Into Thinking He Is the President"
Members of the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 9th claimed that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting president, nominating candidates for Constitutional Court justices was "a natural constitutional duty to ensure continuity of government and maintenance of constitutional order during a presidential vacancy." This was a defensive stance taken as the Democratic Party of Korea opposed the nomination and launched fierce attacks on Acting President Han.
On the same day, People Power Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and issued a statement saying, "We urge Representative Lee Jae-myung to immediately stop his delusion of privatizing the Constitution."
Earlier, at the Cabinet meeting the previous day, Acting President Han nominated Lee Wan-gyu, head of the Legislation Office, and Ham Sang-hoon, chief judge of the Seoul High Court, as successors to Constitutional Court justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun, whose terms expire on the 18th. In response, former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung and the party leadership criticized Acting President Han, saying he "does not have the authority to appoint Constitutional Court justices" and "is deluded into thinking he is the president." At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held that day, former leader Lee pointed out, "No matter how many appointments are made, they are useless. They are simply invalid." Floor leader Park Chan-dae also launched an offensive, calling it "an unconstitutional act by a prime minister who holds only an appointed position and a second coup."
On the 12th, ruling party lawmakers protested Chairman Jeong Cheong-rae's conduct of the proceedings at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly. 2025.3.12 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
However, People Power Party members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee rebutted, stating, "Article 6, Paragraph 3 of the Constitutional Court Act clearly stipulates the obligation to nominate successors before the expiration of a justice's term," and "The Constitutional Court also ruled in the 'Ma Eun-hyuk case' that the acting president must clearly fulfill the duty of appointing justices." They added, "Former leader Lee is making unreasonable claims that the acting president is acting like the president, but he should not be mistaken," and retorted, "Isn't the one who is actually deluded into thinking he is the president none other than himself?" They also addressed Speaker Woo Wan-sik, saying, "No matter how loudly he raises his voice refusing to accept the personnel hearing request, he cannot overturn the spirit of the Constitution and the clear provisions of the law."
They further stated, "The Democratic Party has insisted on completing the nine-member Constitutional Court. Yet when Acting President Han lawfully proceeded with the appointment process, they are again making unreasonable claims about injunctions to suspend effectiveness," and raised their voices, "The Democratic Party is merely arguing for leaving two seats vacant so that if Representative Lee wins the early presidential election, they can appoint justices to suit their preferences, after passing an unconstitutional amendment to extend the terms of Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun." They also emphasized that if the Democratic Party files for an injunction to suspend the effectiveness of Acting President Han's nominations, they will take legal measures such as submitting legal opinions.
After issuing the statement, Yoo Sang-beom, the People Power Party floor leader on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, responded to reporters' questions about whether it was necessary for the acting president to make nominations ahead of the presidential election in two months, saying, "Is it appropriate to pass a bill extending the term of a Constitutional Court justice whose term is fixed by the Constitution, or is it appropriate for the prime minister, who must exercise the president's practical authority during a vacancy, to nominate a justice as acting president?" He answered, "The latter is an act in accordance with the Constitution and the law."
When asked whether it was appropriate to nominate Lee Wan-gyu, who has been booked on charges including aiding a rebellion, as a candidate for Constitutional Court justice, he countered, "I would ask this: Is it appropriate for former leader Lee, who is currently a defendant in five major cases and undergoing important trials, to run as a presidential candidate?" He firmly answered, "I absolutely do not think it is appropriate."
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