Ruling Party: "Unconstitutionality is just one opinion... We do not agree"
Joonpyo Hong, former mayor of Daegu, has expressed concerns regarding the ruling party's plan to establish a special court for insurrection cases. The National Court Administration has also pointed out the potential unconstitutionality of such a special court. After the court rejected the arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, calls within the Democratic Party for the establishment of a special court have been growing.
On September 3, through his social media account, Hong stated, "Going so far as to establish a special court for insurrection is excessive," expressing his concerns.
Hong further explained, "After liberation, the special court for the Committee for the Investigation of Anti-National Activities had constitutional grounds, and the revolutionary court after the May 16 coup was possible because it was a coup d'etat. This is not something a democratically elected government should do, and it is unconstitutional. Judicial independence must be upheld in any democratic society. Punishing insurrection by trampling on the constitutional order in the same way is a grave mistake. If this continues, people may start referring to it as the 'Lee Jaemyung presidency,'" he pointed out.
Ruling Party: "Unconstitutionality is just one opinion... We do not agree"
The ruling party responded to the National Court Administration's concerns about unconstitutionality by stating that it is "just one opinion," and indicated plans to push forward regardless.
Kim Byunggi, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press briefing at the National Assembly on the morning of September 2 regarding the regular session, and addressed the National Court Administration's concerns about the special court for insurrection, saying, "That is just one opinion. There are those who hold that view and those who do not. We do not believe it is unconstitutional," asserting the need for its establishment.
Kim Byunggi, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press briefing for the 2025 regular National Assembly session on the 2nd at the National Assembly.
He added, "Aside from this, although it was not realized, the National Assembly once attempted to establish a special court for judicial corruption. Therefore, it is premature to say definitively whether this is unconstitutional or not. I believe a decision should be made after sufficient discussion."
Jeon Hyunhee, chairperson of the Democratic Party's Special Committee for Comprehensive Response to the Three Major Special Prosecutions (Insurrection, Kim Keonhee, and Private Jea Special Prosecutions), stated, "Although this has not been discussed at the party leadership or as an official party stance, it would be appropriate for the courts to take self-corrective action first."
Appearing on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyunjung's News Show," Jeon said, "If the courts were to first reassign or discipline judges such as Judge Ji Guyoun, about whom the public has doubts regarding the fairness of trials, would there really be a need to legislate the establishment of a special court for insurrection? That is the position of the Democratic Party," she explained.
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