Moon Hyungbae: "Kim Daejung Was the Most Complete Democrat"... Integrity Lecture in Muan, South Jeolla

Emphasizing Social Integration and the Importance of Judges' Diverse Experiences

On September 22, former Acting President of the Constitutional Court Moon Hyungbae stated, "President Kim Daejung was the most complete democrat in our political history," urging the practice of democracy and social integration.

Yonhap News Agency

Moon made these remarks during a lecture titled "Integrity, Rethinking Through the Spirit of Law" held at the Seungdal Culture and Sports Center in Muan County, South Jeolla Province, on the same day. South Jeolla is the hometown of former President Kim.

After the lecture, Moon commented, "Democracy can only succeed when there are many democrats," and added, "At the very least, shouldn't Jeonnam, which has a voice in matters of democracy, set an example?"

Moon emphasized, "Social integration is crucial for Korea to become an advanced nation," and stated, "What I enjoy comes from the goodwill of others, and there is no greater social integration than for me to extend goodwill to society in return."

Moon especially stressed the responsibility of social integration to university students. He said, "The primary target for social integration is university students," and added, "I was once asked, 'Isn't martial law the exclusive authority of the president?' But this is a power subject to constitutional control. Someone needs to explain this properly."

Moon referenced the 2004 Constitutional Court ruling that declared the relocation of the administrative capital unconstitutional, stating, "Where in the customary constitution does it say that Seoul must be the capital? Even though the president pledged it as a campaign promise and the National Assembly agreed, perhaps the decision was influenced by the fact that all the justices involved in the case were from Seoul."

He continued, "If the ruling of unconstitutionality had not been made, President Roh Moo-hyun's visionary spirit could have been realized, but with judicial intervention, the plan was ultimately divided," and added, "Judges cannot transcend their own experiences. Judges from diverse backgrounds must be appointed and gain sufficient experience."