Court Ruling on 'Lee Jun-seok Injunction' in Limbo...Judges Say "Decision After Next Week"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The court's decision on the 'injunction application to suspend the effectiveness of the Emergency Response Committee launch' filed by former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is not expected to be made easily.

On the 23rd, the Civil Division 51 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Presiding Judge Hwang Jeong-su) stated, "The decision on former leader Lee's injunction application will be made after next week." The court had also said on the 18th, "Since a considerable amount of time is required for careful case review, it is difficult to make a decision within this week."

Typically, injunction results come out within a day or two, but the unusually delayed decision is interpreted as an intention to exercise utmost caution, given that the court's judgment could cause significant political repercussions. Additionally, while courts generally avoid involvement in political matters, Chief Presiding Judge Hwang Jeong-su, who is handling this case, is known to have accepted injunction applications in political matters if there were procedural issues.

Earlier, on the 17th at 3 p.m., the court held a hearing for the injunction application filed by former leader Lee on the 10th against the People Power Party and Emergency Response Committee Chairman Joo Ho-young to suspend the effectiveness of the committee's launch.

The court is listening to both parties' opinions and examining whether there were procedural or substantive defects in the Emergency Response Committee's launch process. Immediately after the hearing, the court also stated, "We will make a careful judgment and decide soon."

Former leader Lee's side argued, "The People Power Party's bylaws allow the launch of an Emergency Response Committee when the party leader is absent or the Supreme Council's function is lost due to an emergency, but this is not such a situation."

In response, the People Power Party side countered, "The party leader's term is two years, but the suspension of authority for six months constitutes an emergency," adding, "With five Supreme Council members, including Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin, declaring their resignation, the Supreme Council's function should also be considered lost."

Furthermore, former leader Lee's side pointed out, "Assemblywomen Bae Hyun-jin and Yoon Young-seok declared their resignation from the Supreme Council but participated in the Supreme Council vote held on the 2nd," and argued, "Since the resignation declaration is a unilateral act without the other party, the resignation effect should be considered effective immediately upon declaration, so the Supreme Council resolution made after their attendance has procedural defects."

Regarding this, the People Power Party side rebutted, "The resignation from the Supreme Council takes effect from the time the party member submits a resignation letter to the People Power Party via phone, fax, or in person," and added, "Declaring resignation intentions on personal social media or to the media cannot be legally considered as resignation."

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