Amid indefinite delays in announcing the impeachment verdict against President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has actively started reviewing a bill aimed at extending the terms of outgoing Constitutional Court judges. Anticipating the possibility that no conclusion will be reached before Acting Constitutional Court Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae and Justice Lee Mi-sun retire on April 18, the DPK appears to be preparing countermeasures to cover all scenarios.
On the 31st, at the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary meeting, the Democratic Party introduced a series of amendments to the Constitutional Court Act containing these provisions.
Chung Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, proposed the bill stating, “There are public concerns that the Constitutional Court might become dysfunctional, potentially leading to a national disaster. This bill aims to prevent such an outcome preemptively.” He further added, “Although controversies may arise, I urge everyone to discuss this seriously as a ‘national collapse prevention bill’.”
Kim Yong-min, deputy floor leader for policy, emphasized, “The Constitutional Court Act stipulates that matters regarding the organization and operation of the Constitutional Court should be determined by law. Therefore, if issues regarding judges’ terms arise, we can resolve them through legislation. The term limit exists to prevent shortening judges’ terms, not to prevent temporarily extending terms until new appointments are made.” He dismissed constitutional concerns raised by some.
If passed by the National Assembly, the amendment will enable Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun to continue deliberations on President Yoon’s impeachment trial until a verdict is reached.
On the same day, the Democratic Party also proposed legislation that would prevent the Acting President from appointing Constitutional Court judges. The intent is to block Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo from nominating replacements for Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun after their retirement.
However, internal discussions within the Democratic Party appear incomplete.
Park Sung-joon, the DPK’s chief deputy floor leader, said on CBS radio’s “Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show” that morning, “There are definitely concerns about what happens after April 18, as the Constitutional Court’s impeachment verdict is delayed. It’s true there were voices calling for legal preparations, but whether we should officially proceed with legal actions is another issue altogether.”
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