Attempt to Appoint Acting President Han as Constitutional Court Justice Halted

Within the Party: "We Felt Something Was Not Right"

Concerns Over Possible Petition to Dissolve Party for Insurrection Charges

"The Party Should Not Remain Complacent"

The People Power Party is in turmoil after the Constitutional Court accepted an injunction to suspend the nomination of Han Ducksoo, Acting President and Prime Minister, as a Constitutional Court justice. There are growing concerns that if the Democratic Party of Korea comes to power, they could seek a Constitutional Court ruling to dissolve the party by holding former President Yoon Sukyeol accountable for the emergency martial law issue.

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On the 17th, a senior member of the People Power Party commented on the failed plan to nominate Han as a Constitutional Court justice, saying, "I felt something was not right," and added, "It seems the political landscape is heading in a strange direction. I see this as a serious crisis for democracy."

Regarding speculation that the People Power Party could be petitioned for dissolution as an unconstitutional party due to responsibility for insurrection, he said, "The party should not remain complacent," and, "The public should also view this as a serious crisis." However, he added, "The court has not yet defined this as insurrection, nor has it designated anyone as an accomplice."

The sense of crisis felt by the People Power Party was also confirmed during the so-called 'bench clearing' incident on the 14th. When Kim Byungjoo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, shouted at the end of a question in the government inspection session on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security, "The People Power Party should be disbanded as a party complicit in rebellion. I hope you officially apologize," ruling party members reacted with resistance that nearly escalated into a clash. Although protests usually involved finger-pointing and similar gestures, on this day, Kwon Youngjin of the People Power Party shouted, "Complicit in rebellion?" and approached the seats of Democratic Party members. As a result, People Power Party members had to restrain Kwon to prevent a confrontation.

With heightened concerns over the possibility of a petition to dissolve the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party, the Constitutional Court's decision has emerged as a new variable. Within the party, some argue, "If the Constitutional Court does not make a decision on the original proposal and the next president makes the appointment, it could cause confusion," and, "A decision on the original proposal should be made before the presidential election." However, in political circles, it is expected that the nomination for the vacant seats of Constitutional Court Justices Moon Hyungbae and Lee Miseon will be handed over to the next president, who will be elected on June 3.

Lee Junseok, the Reform Party's presidential candidate, said in a meeting with reporters the previous day, "There is talk that if there is a change in government, the composition of the Constitutional Court could influence the ruling on party dissolution."

Reform New Party presidential candidate Lee Junseok is greeting commuters in front of Gasan Digital Complex Station in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul on the 16th. Photo by Yonhap News

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Looking at past cases such as the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party, the government can file for party dissolution after deliberation by the Cabinet, with the Minister of Justice submitting the petition. According to Article 8, Section 4 of the Constitution and the Constitutional Court Act, if six Constitutional Court justices agree, the party is immediately dissolved. In political circles, it is analyzed that Han's attempt to appoint a Constitutional Court justice, despite controversy over overstepping his authority, was due to concerns about the post-election situation.

Previously, at the roundtable of the five opposition parties, it was decided to establish a "Special Committee for Investigating Anti-Constitutional Acts" and to push for a special prosecutor law on insurrection.

Kyuntaek Park Democratic Party lawmaker Yonhap News

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Park Kyuntaek, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "The People Power Party sees the issue of appointing Constitutional Court justices as linked to the issue of an unconstitutional party ruling, but they are unrelated." However, Park added, "Whether the entire party can be viewed as unconstitutional requires judgment," and, "There has already been a constitutional judgment with the impeachment of former President Yoon. If further investigations reveal related suspicions, it could influence the ruling on whether the party is unconstitutional."