Han Donghoon: "A Major Stain in the Judiciary's History"
Joo Jinwoo: "Prosecution Must File an Appeal"
The People Power Party strongly criticized the Seoul High Court's decision to cancel the hearing scheduled for the 18th in the case concerning President Lee Jaemyung's alleged violation of the Public Official Election Act, declaring, "True justice is dead."
On June 9, former party leader Han Donghoon commented on social media, "Today's decision by the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 7, which has effectively undermined the independence of the judiciary, will remain a major stain in the history of the South Korean judiciary."
The Seoul High Court announced on this day that, citing Article 84 of the Constitution, it would designate a new date for President Lee's retrial of the Public Official Election Act case at a later time.
Regarding this, former leader Han stated, "This is not only contrary to the Constitution but is also a fundamentally flawed decision that undermines judicial independence, and it must be rectified by all possible means." He added, "Other panels currently presiding over President Lee's trials must never follow suit."
Jang Donghyuk, a lawmaker and former judge, asserted, "The President's immunity from prosecution cannot, either by the letter of the law or by a purposive interpretation, be extended to suspend trials that were already underway before the President took office." He continued, "Under the Lee Jaemyung administration, which has seized control of the legislative and executive branches and now forced the judiciary into submission, true 'justice' has died."
Lawmaker Kim Giheon also remarked, "The judiciary has, in effect, declared that for the next five years it will abandon the strict standards of law in the face of the President's formidable power," and added, "We are now living in a world where power grants impunity?a veritable 'Lee Jaemyung dictatorship' has arrived."
Joo Jinwoo, the party's chief legal advisor, called on prosecutors to file an appeal. On social media, Joo wrote, "This is merely a decision by an individual panel and not yet the Supreme Court's final ruling," and insisted, "The prosecution must seek a final decision from the Supreme Court through an appeal." He argued that if canceling a hearing is within the panel's authority, then the prosecution has both the right and responsibility to seek a higher court's decision.
Joo further added, "There is also the option of requesting the recusal of a panel that has misinterpreted the law," and emphasized, "There is no justifiable reason for the Democratic Party to oppose clarifying the legal principles."
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