0
Lawmakers vote during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on April 17, where a revision to the Constitutional Court Act was passed with 188 votes in favor and 106 against, out of 294 lawmakers present. / Source: Song Eui-joo, The Hankyoreh

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) strongly criticized the revised Constitutional Court Act passed by the National Assembly on April 17, arguing the legislation violates the Constitution.

The amendment, pushed through by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, extends the term of Constitutional Court justices until their successors are appointed and bans acting presidents from appointing justices allocated to the president. The bill passed with 188 votes in favor and 106 against, out of 294 lawmakers present.

Rep. Park Joon-tae of the PPP said during the plenary session that the revision "directly conflicts with Article 111, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, which stipulates that Constitutional Court justices serve a six-year term."

“The core of this bill is to allow justices to continue performing their duties even after their six-year term ends, until a successor is appointed,” Park emphasized.

He also accused the Democratic Party of bypassing constitutional reform by using legislation to push its agenda. “This bill seizes the appointment power of the acting president, which is guaranteed under the Constitution, through ordinary legislation. That makes it unconstitutional,” he said.

Park added, “An acting president, who is delegated the president’s powers under the Constitution, naturally has the authority to appoint justices.”

He concluded by criticizing the Democratic Party's legislative approach. “By the same logic, they could change the presidential term with a simple law. The public must remember this arrogant behavior—forcing through unconstitutional laws to achieve political aims.”