Unconstitutionality of the Corruption Investigation Office Act Nullifying Opposition Veto Power to Be Decided Today

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The constitutionality of the "High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office Act (HCIO Act)," which nullified the opposition party's veto power, is being determined.

According to the legal community on the 29th, the Constitutional Court will deliver a ruling in the afternoon on the constitutional complaint regarding the partial amendment of the HCIO Act.

The HCIO Act was enacted in July last year, and the HCIO Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee was formed, but it failed to meet the quorum due to opposition from the opposition party. Subsequently, the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, passed an amendment in December last year that reduced the quorum for the 7-member HCIO Chief Candidate Recommendation Committee from the previous 6 members to 'two-thirds,' i.e., 5 members, thereby easing the approval requirements.

In response, Rep. Yoo Sang-beom of the People Power Party and the Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea filed a constitutional complaint, arguing that "the amendment to the HCIO Act, which nullifies the opposition party's veto power and allows lawyers without trial, investigation, inquiry, or practical experience to be appointed as HCIO prosecutors, violates the spirit of the Constitution and undermines the rule of law."

Meanwhile, this is the second time the HCIO Act is being reviewed by the Constitutional Court. Earlier, in January, the court dismissed a constitutional complaint pointing out the unconstitutionality of the HCIO Act. The complaint was filed by members of the United Future Party in February last year, claiming that the HCIO, which claims to be an independent agency from the government, violates the principle of separation of powers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.