Woo Won-sik "Disagreeing Opinions Do Not Justify Denying Judicial Procedures... There Is an Absolute Line That Cannot Be Crossed"

Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-sik explained on the 23rd the reason why he had no choice but to hold an emergency inquiry regarding the violent intrusion incident at the Seoul Western District Court. Speaker Woo stated, "This was to clearly establish the principle that acts threatening the existence of democracy by denying the minimum standards that must be accepted despite differing opinions will never be tolerated."

In a statement released that day, Speaker Woo explained the purpose of holding an emergency inquiry in the plenary session of the National Assembly despite disagreements between the ruling and opposition parties, saying, "It was deemed necessary to address the emergency inquiry on the violent intrusion at the Western District Court in the plenary session, which represents the will of the National Assembly."

Speaker Woo Won-shik. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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Regarding the incident where protesters broke into the court, assaulted police officers, and damaged the building and fixtures, he pointed out, "This was an attack on the Constitution and democracy, trampling on the rule of law and damaging the national dignity."

Speaker Woo criticized the detention of President Yoon Seok-yeol, stating, "The detention of a sitting president is an unfortunate event, and while opinions may differ on the court's judgment, differing opinions do not justify acts that deny the judicial procedures established by the Constitution." He added, "It fundamentally destroys the rule of law and the national judicial system," emphasizing, "There must be no words or actions that give room for excuses or appear to shield such acts. We must respond firmly."

Regarding holding the plenary session despite emergency inquiries at the standing committee level, he said, "The Speaker judged that the National Assembly must respond with a high level of vigilance to this incident, and for that, it was necessary to address this matter in the plenary session representing the will of the National Assembly."

Above all, he pointed out the infringement on constitutional institutions by the judiciary. He explained, "Due to the emergency martial law situation on December 3rd, all constitutional institutions led by the five heads?the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Prime Minister, and the Chairperson of the National Election Commission?have either had their authority infringed upon or threatened. This is a denial of the Constitution and the national system, and it is tantamount to a challenge to popular sovereignty based on the separation of powers. Therefore, the National Assembly, as a constitutional institution representing the people, must respond strictly."

He continued, "Although some political confusion is inevitable in a political environment where extreme conflicts and confrontations have intensified, there is a line that must never be crossed," emphasizing, "Recurrence of similar incidents must be prevented."

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