Court set to kickstart impeachment deliberation

With the National Assembly having passed the ball to the Constitutional Court, justices are set to kick-start their deliberations Monday on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

Eight of the nine justices -- all except Kim Yi-su who is visiting Peru -- turned up at the court during the weekend. They are expected to discuss the deliberation schedule, the planned operation of a task force and other related issues.

Kang Il-won, the chief justice on the case, cut short his business trip to Venice and returned home Saturday. Upon his arrival, he met with the court’s president, Park Han-chul, to review the case, officials said.

“I am well aware of this case’s meaning and significance,” Kang told reporters as he appeared at the court in central Seoul late Saturday. “I will do my best so that the court will make the correct, righteous decision in a speedy manner according to the Constitution and law.”

Shortly before entering his office Sunday, he said he came to finish examining records and sorting out materials for Monday’s session.

Soon after the bill’s passage Friday, the court convened a meeting and asked the president to submit answers to its questionnaire within a week, shorter than the 10 days given to President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004. 

“During the first gathering, which seven of the nine attended, they agreed on the need to process the case impartially and promptly for the safeguard and upkeep of the Constitution,” court spokesperson Bae Bo-yoon said.

For the motion’s ultimate approval, at least seven judges must attend a trial and six must give consent.

The court is required to provide its verdict within 180 days, or until June 6, but it might come earlier given high public and political demand.

Opposition parties are ramping up pressure for an early ruling.

While urging Park’s voluntary resignation, Rep. Choo Mi-ae, chairwoman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, has said the decision should be made no later than the end of January to “avoid uncertainties” and put state affairs back on track as soon as possible.

Her remarks apparently reflect concerns over the forthcoming retirements of two justices, scheduled for January and March. But whether acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn is entitled to nominate their successors remains in question.

If they are not replaced, the motion would require the endorsement of six of the remaining seven judges, thus lowering the chances of its approval.

“For an early normalization of state governance, the Constitutional Court should give advanced approval,” Choo wrote via her Facebook account Sunday.

“It has been revealed that President Park has made a grave violation of the Constitution and thus is no longer qualified to protect it. ... The purpose of the impeachment trial is to swiftly restore the constitutional government.”

Other opposition big shots echoed her view, including former chiefs of the minor opposition People’s Party, Reps. Ahn Cheol-soo and Park Jie-won, and Democratic Party Floor Leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho.

A rapid court process is essential to minimize a vacuum in state leadership and stabilize the situation in line with the people’s wishes, they said.

Protest organizers reiterated Sunday their pledge to continue mass rallies until Park is ousted, stressing the need for stringent monitoring of the court’s activities.

But the ruling Saenuri Party displayed discomfort with the opposition calls, urging the other parties to refrain from making any attempt to influence the justices.

Saenuri Floor Leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk also said the trial should be wholly left to the court and politicians ought not to present any “direction or guideline” one way or another.

“The opposition would face the people and Constitution’s merciless judgment should it attempt an anti-constitutional offensive and rash presidential race, capitalizing on public anger,” party spokesman Rep. Kim Sung-won said in a statement later in the day.

Meanwhile, Hwang moved ahead with his takeover of state affairs during the weekend, as he was briefed on various government tasks and held meetings with a focus on security.

His emphasis on security is deemed a bid to veer away from internal issues, wary of the opposition and public’s criticism of his failure to keep the Choi Soon-sil scandal at bay throughout his four years in government, including as the justice minister.

Concerns are growing over stalled summit diplomacy and a possible vacuum in foreign and security policy leadership at a delicate time. A presidential transition is taking place in Washington and China appears to be continuing to retaliate for Seoul’s plan to station a US missile shield.

On Saturday, the acting president and prime minister met with Park’s Chief of Staff Han Kwang-ok, Office for Government Policy Coordination Minister Lee Suk-joon and other top officials from Cheong Wa Dae and the Prime Minister’s Office. They consulted on how to divide functions and protocol and escort issues, among others.

Hwang then convened his second Cabinet meeting since the impeachment motion was adopted. Singling out national security as the “most important and urgent matter at this point,” he once again cautioned against North Korea’s possible military and cyberattacks aimed at taking advantage of the South’s nationwide uproar. 

On Sunday, he visited the headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul.

“A small ant hole may tear down a great embankment,” Hwang told military commanders during the visit.

“I want you to maintain a solid security posture such as by tightening vigilance so that the North could not miscalculate our domestic situation and commit a reckless provocation.”  

With Park unable to attend a weekly meeting with top presidential secretaries, the acting president plans to preside over a ministerial gathering to oversee the current situation Monday, his office said.

By Shin Hyon-hee  (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)