與 "Ma Eun-hyuk, Denies Republic of Korea... Unqualified as Constitutional Court Justice"

People Power Party Members of the Planning and Finance Committee
Visit Park Sooyoung During His Hunger Strike

Members of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee on the 4th claimed that Ma Eun-hyuk, a nominee for Constitutional Court Justice, is "a person who denies the Republic of Korea" and argued that Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Choi Sang-mok should not appoint him.

Ruling party lawmakers, including Song Eon-seok, the chair of the Planning and Finance Committee, visited Park Soo-young, who is on a hunger strike in the National Assembly in the afternoon, checked his health, and then held a press conference, stating, "It is unthinkable for a person who denies the Republic of Korea to become a justice of the Constitutional Court, the highest guardian of the Constitution." Lawmakers Park Dae-chul, Park Seong-hoon, Shin Dong-wook, Lee In-seon, Lee Jong-wook, and Choi Eun-seok also attended the press conference.

Members of the People Power Party's Budget and Accounts Committee are holding a press conference on March 4, 2025, at the National Assembly Rotunda Hall regarding major issues including opposition to the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court Justice. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Earlier, the Constitutional Court ruled on the 27th of last month that Acting President Choi's failure to appoint nominee Ma was unconstitutional. Park, who serves as the ruling party's floor whip on the Planning and Finance Committee, has been conducting a hunger strike in the National Assembly's Rotunda Hall for three days since the 2nd, demanding opposition to Ma's appointment.

Song said, "When Ma was a judge, he made an unreasonable dismissal of prosecution decision against the Democratic Labor Party aides who illegally occupied the National Assembly by force," and added, "He was also a founding member of the Incheon Regional Democratic Labor Workers' Federation (People's Federation), which claims the Korean War was a northern invasion," criticizing his past record.

He continued, "Ma is a figure unilaterally recommended by the Democratic Party, which holds an absolute majority of seats, not by bipartisan agreement," and said, "Forcing the appointment breaks the long-standing traditions and customs of the National Assembly."

Song emphasized, "Park Soo-young's hunger strike is a last appeal to protect the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and democracy," and urged, "Acting President Choi must listen to this voice and make a decision to protect the Republic of Korea and the Constitution."

Lawmaker Park Dae-chul said, "We are waiting for Acting President Choi to say he will not appoint Ma Eun-hyuk, but it has not come yet," and added, "I hope Acting President Choi will not take reckless actions so that the Constitutional Court can take a position as a judge."

Regarding the Democratic Party's criticism of Park Soo-young's hunger strike as a 'greedy tantrum,' Song said, "I want to say a word to party leader Lee Jae-myung. You should not disparage a hunger strike that is being carried out risking one's life."

Lawmaker Shin Dong-wook pointed out the opposition party's linking of Ma's appointment issue with the resumption of the ruling-opposition-government policy council, saying, "I want to question how they can use the lives of the people as a bargaining chip to pressure Acting President Choi and the ruling party regarding Ma's appointment."

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