Son In-hyuk, Secretary-General of the Constitutional Court, stated regarding the competence dispute adjudication filed by the People Power Party over President Lee Jae-myung's request for a re-nomination of a Supreme Court justice candidate that "looking at precedents, a dismissal ruling is also possible."

During the parliamentary audit of the Constitutional Court by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly this morning (the 13th), in response to a question by Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-kyu asking "how the competence dispute adjudication filed by the People Power Party is proceeding," Secretary-General Son answered, "I understand that the case has been received and the direction of case processing is being discussed."

To the remark asking "isn't it a target for dismissal even before reviewing the contents?", Son mentioned, "Looking at existing precedents and such, that kind of judgment is also possible."

This is an explanation to the effect that there are precedents where competence dispute adjudications filed by a specific political party or lawmakers claiming that "the National Assembly's competence has been infringed" were dismissed on the grounds of a "lack of standing to sue."

To lawmaker Kim's remark to "process it promptly without worrying about it too much," Son elaborated, "Each case has slightly different points, so taking those parts into consideration... (we deliberate)."

The presidential office and the judiciary are continuing their conflict without narrowing their differences over the successor candidate for former Supreme Court Justice Noh Tae-ak.

When Chief Justice Cho Dae-hyeop nominated candidate Son Bong-ki in writing last August, the presidential office demanded a re-nomination, citing a lack of procedural completeness.

In response, the People Power Party filed a competence dispute adjudication with the Constitutional Court last month, claiming that President Lee Jae-myung's request to re-nominate the Supreme Court justice candidate infringed upon the National Assembly's constitutional competence.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Kyun-taek questioned, "Isn't arguing that Chief Justice Cho Hee-de's nomination right was infringed by the president's refusal of appointment an attitude that denies constitutional provisions?", to which Son stated, "It is a matter of interpretive theory regarding Article 104, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution," adding, "A competence dispute adjudication has been filed with the Constitutional Court, and I think it is inappropriate to express personal or official institutional opinions."

(Photo: Yonhap News)