[2022 National Audit] Ruling and Opposition Clash Over 'Geomsu Wanbak' and 'Geomsu Wonbok' at Constitutional Court Audit

與 "Inspection Ban, Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung Investigation Shield" Opposition "Malicious Patchwork"
Criticism Pours in for Justice Lee Young-jin over 'Golf Entertainment Allegations' Trial

Park Jong-moon, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, is taking the witness oath at the National Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting room during the National Assembly inspection of the Constitutional Court on the morning of the 17th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] At the Constitutional Court’s National Assembly audit, the amended Prosecutors' Office Act and Criminal Procedure Act, known as the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak (complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights)’ laws, and the enforcement decree of ‘Geomsu Wonbok (restoration of prosecutorial investigation rights)’ filed as constitutional disputes by the ruling party and the Ministry of Justice respectively, became the main points of contention.

There were also continued criticisms from lawmakers toward Constitutional Court Justice Lee Young-jin, who was reported to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) over allegations of ‘golf entertainment’.

During the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s audit of the Constitutional Court on the 17th, People Power Party lawmaker Jo Su-jin played a video of Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-geun saying after his election as floor leader, “I will definitely protect former President Moon Jae-in and Senior Advisor Lee Jae-myung,” and then said, “Shouldn’t we see the Geomsu Wanbak bill as an attempt to block investigations into former President Moon Jae-in and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung?”

Park Hyung-soo, also from the same party, mentioned that when the Geomsu Wanbak bill was processed in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hyung-bae had left the party, and argued, “This is a serious procedural flaw that blatantly disregards the purpose of the National Assembly Act to guarantee minority party rights,” adding, “In the constitutional dispute trial, the law itself should naturally be declared null and void.”

Jeon Ju-hye also expressed suspicion, saying, “Since former President Moon’s code personnel such as members of the Uri Law Research Association, International Human Rights Law Research Association, and Minbyun occupy the majority of the Constitutional Court, I wonder if the Geomsu Wanbak law trial is being delayed,” and demanded, “The Constitutional Court should strictly judge the Democratic Party’s trivial treatment of the agenda adjustment committee as if it were ‘chewed and discarded gum.’”

On the other hand, the Democratic Party defined the ruling party’s claims about the Geomsu Wanbak law as malicious political attacks and urged the Constitutional Court to block the government’s enforcement decree amendment that goes against the law’s intent of ‘reducing prosecutorial investigation rights.’

Democratic Party lawmaker Kwon Chil-seung said, “Floor leader Park Hong-geun’s statement that he will ‘definitely protect Lee Jae-myung and Moon Jae-in’ means he will take the lead in fighting if political retaliation and prosecutorial overreach become a reality,” emphasizing, “Linking this to the Geomsu Wanbak law is a malicious patchwork of unrelated matters, merely a policy statement by an opposition floor leader candidate.”

Lawmaker Kim Nam-guk rebutted by mentioning that People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, who was floor leader at the time, had agreed to the Geomsu Wanbak bill, saying, “Kwon Seong-dong agreed to the mediation proposal. If this law was to protect leader Lee Jae-myung and former President Moon Jae-in, would the People Power Party have agreed?”

Additionally, Democratic Party lawmakers raised their voices calling for disciplinary action or exclusion from duties against Justice Lee.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Tan-hee said, “Shouldn’t Justice Lee be excluded from duties?” adding, “This is an unprecedented case where a sitting justice is under investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and the investigation concerns receiving entertainment related to the case.” He also questioned, “I asked if the advisory committee at the Constitutional Court was convened to discuss this issue, but has nothing been done?”

Park Jong-moon, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, replied, “No advisory committee has been convened regarding that matter,” and said, “We take the member’s serious remarks to heart.”

From the same party, lawmaker Choi Kang-wook pointed out, “Justice Lee himself admitted that a shameful incident occurred,” and said, “Waiting for the investigation results is obviously undesirable.”

Justice Lee is under investigation by the CIO after being reported last October for receiving entertainment such as playing golf and dining with a hometown junior businessman Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee’s friend businessman A, and a lawyer.

Mr. A claimed that during the meal, he confided about his divorce lawsuit worries, and Justice Lee said something to the effect of “I know the chief judge of the family court and will help with the lawsuit.” It was also alleged that 5 million won in cash and golf apparel were delivered to Justice Lee through a lawyer.

Justice Lee’s side acknowledged playing golf and dining with Mr. A but denied any discussions related to the lawsuit or receipt of money or goods.

The CIO conducted a search and seizure at the golf course identified as the entertainment venue and summoned Mr. Lee, who was identified as the organizer of the entertainment gathering, for investigation.

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