“Need for Clear Court Interpretation on Trial Suspension”
The Democratic Party of Korea has announced that they will not delay the processing of the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act, despite the postponement of the appellate trial for President Lee Jae-myung’s violation of the Public Official Election Act. The party has indicated that it intends to handle the amendment, which includes suspending ongoing criminal trials upon a presidential election victory, during the National Assembly’s plenary session on the 12th.
In a press briefing at the National Assembly on the 9th, Democratic Party Chief Spokesperson Cho Seung-rae was asked if the plan to handle the amendment on the 12th would be affected. He replied, “If it is settled by the opinion of individual court panels, it could lead to arbitrary interpretation of the constitutional spirit, which is problematic.”
Spokesperson Cho further stated, “Does the Seoul High Court’s decision to schedule for a later date imply an intention to suspend trials during President Lee’s term? When considering the arbitrariness in interpreting the constitution, it is necessary for the court to clearly interpret whether the trial is suspended.”
He emphasized the need for a court interpretation on the trial suspension, rather than opinions from individual panels, saying, “If the trend of individual panel opinions continues, I believe the Democratic Party has no reason to hold back the push for the amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act.”
On this day, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 7 (Presided by Judge Lee Jae-kwon) changed the schedule for the appellate trial of President Lee’s Public Official Election Act violation case, initially set for the 18th, explaining that it was in accordance with Article 84 of the Constitution, which specifies the presidential immunity from prosecution.