Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok named two of three contenders (Jeong Gye-seon and Cho Han-chang) to the Constitutional Court on Dec. 31.
In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, Acting President Choi stated, “As the acting president, I decided to appoint the Constitutional Court judges to end political uncertainty and social conflict as soon as possible, thereby preventing potential economic and livelihood crises.”
He continued, “However, I respected the principle of the former acting president, who emphasized the tradition of appointing Constitutional Court judges through bipartisan agreement and considered the ongoing discussions between the ruling and opposition parties.”
He added, “I confirmed that candidates Jeong Gye-seon and Cho Han-chang, who approached bipartisan agreement, will be appointed immediately today, while the remaining candidate will be appointed once the bipartisan agreement is confirmed.”
The Democratic Party recommended Candidate Jeong, and the People Power Party recommended Candidate Cho. Choi said that candidate Ma Eun-hyuk, who the Democratic Party also recommended, would be appointed later upon bipartisan agreement.
Choi exercised the right to request reconsideration (veto) on the Dual Special Prosecutor Bills (Special Prosecutor Bills on Rebellion and First Lady Kim Keon-hee), which were passed by the National Assembly’s plenary session led by the Democratic Party and other opposition parties on Dec. 12 and submitted to the Cabinet meeting on this day.
The Dual Special Prosecutor Bills are bills that harm the national interest,” Choi emphasized, and added, “Since the special prosecutor system is an exceptional system to the principle of separation of powers under the Constitution, stricter standards are needed.”
He further stated, “Only then can the public accept the results of the special prosecutor’s investigation and completely resolve the suspicions,” and appealed, “I urge the ruling and opposition parties to come together again and devise a reasonable plan that everyone can agree on.”
The Special Prosecutor Bill on Rebellion stipulates that the special prosecutor shall investigate all suspicions concerning the Dec. 3 martial law incident. Candidates for the special prosecutor are to be recommended by the majority parties among the negotiating and non-negotiating groups, excluding the ruling party. In this regard, one of the special prosecutor candidates recommended by the Democratic Party and the National Innovation Party must be appointed.
