The side of Minister Park Sung-jae submitted a request to the Constitutional Court to advance the first hearing date of his impeachment trial scheduled for the 18th, to which the National Assembly submitted an opposing opinion.
The National Assembly submitted an 'opinion on the request for the reassignment of the hearing date' to the Constitutional Court on the 28th of last month, it was reported on the 10th. According to ChosunBiz, the National Assembly stated in the opinion that the reasons for the impeachment of Minister Park had been specified, and the application for reassignment of the hearing date was an unreasonable request. They opposed Minister Park's claim that the impeachment grounds were unclear and urged the Constitutional Court to proceed quickly with the process and dismiss the case. Dismissal refers to the court's termination of a case that does not meet procedural requirements without a hearing.
The National Assembly claimed the reasons for the impeachment of Minister Park included: ▲colluding with President Yoon Suk-yeol and other cabinet members to commit insurrection; ▲remaining silent without expressing dissent or alternative opinions during the insurrection National Assembly meeting, thus endorsing the state of emergency; ▲issuing orders to prepare confinement facilities at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center on December 4, thereby participating in crucial execution acts of insurrection; ▲meeting with former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and the head of the Legislation Division on the same day to discuss follow-up measures related to the insurrection; ▲refusing records related to the detention hearing of Shin Jae-ho in the impeachment case of prosecutor Kim Young-cheol; ▲distributing reports analyzing the inherent limitations of laws related to testimony and evaluation during the National Assembly inspection period to each member's office; ▲leaving the plenary session room mid-session instead of attending as the Prime Minister during the re-vote on the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor law, thus disregarding the National Assembly.
Previously, on the 24th of last month, the Constitutional Court held the first trial preparation meeting for Minister Park's impeachment trial. On that day, attorney Kim Jae-hoon from Minister Park's side noted, "All the grounds for impeachment from the National Assembly are merely vague or unfounded allegations," and added, "According to constitutional law textbooks, if an impeachment request does not meet legal requirements, a dismissal ruling can be made without entering the merits of the case."
After conducting deliberations, the Constitutional Court designated Minister Park's first formal hearing date for March 18 at 2 p.m. and notified both parties on the following day, the 25th of last month. In response, Minister Park's side submitted a request for 'reassignment of the hearing date (expedited scheduling)' to the Constitutional Court. They stated in the opinion that "there is no reason to postpone this case's hearing date and there is no obstacle that would interfere with the Constitutional Court's swift decision."
However, the Constitutional Court has not disclosed any position regarding the request for reassignment of the hearing date submitted by Minister Park's side. Public Relations Officer Cheon Jae-hyun noted, "There has been no separate decision made or changes regarding the request for reassignment of the hearing date by Minister Park's side."