The first preparatory hearing for the impeachment trial of Administrator Jo Ji-ho took place on the 1st at the Constitutional Court. It has been 202 days since Administrator Jo was impeached on Dec. 12 last year in relation to the martial law of Dec. 3. On this day, the National Assembly requested that the criminal trial results related to the charges of insurrection against Administrator Jo be reflected in the impeachment trial. On the other hand, Administrator Jo's side requested that the impeachment trial proceed separately from the insurrection trial.
Justices Jeong Jeong-mi and Jo Han-chang, who are presiding judges, conducted the first preparatory hearing for Administrator Jo's impeachment trial for about 38 minutes at the Constitutional Court's small courtroom in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at 3 p.m. There is no obligation for the parties to attend the preparatory hearing. The trial on this day proceeded in order to organize the issues and evidence regarding the grounds for impeachment.
Earlier, the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against Administrator Jo on Dec. 12 last year. The grounds for impeachment were that Administrator Jo abused power by sending police to the National Assembly during the martial law of Dec. 3, obstructing lawmakers' access to the National Assembly, and infringing on the right to demand the lifting of the martial law, and participated in insurrection.
On this day, both sides engaged in a battle of nerves over whether to withdraw the charge of 'insurrection' among the impeachment grounds. Previously, the National Assembly's side withdrew the charge of insurrection during the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The intention was that the determination of guilt or innocence concerning insurrection would not be disputed in the constitutional trial for impeachment. However, in the case of Administrator Jo's impeachment trial, they intend to maintain this charge.
On this day, the representative for the National Assembly noted, 'The insurrection trial has already progressed significantly, and the results will come out soon,' and said, 'We believe it is meaningful to conduct the impeachment trial after seeing the results.'
In response, the representative for Administrator Jo said, 'The trial concerning the insurrection charges is likely to see a verdict not until the first half of next year at the earliest, and if related cases are combined, it could be further delayed.' They added, 'There have been cases where impeachment trials were suspended for reasons similar to criminal trials, so we request the court to consider this.' They went on to say, 'Administrator Jo is concerned that his impeachment trial may become an obstacle to the appointment of a new Administrator in the new government.' President Lee Jae-myung cannot appoint a new Administrator until the results of Administrator Jo's impeachment trial are out.
In response, the representative for the National Assembly said, 'I will consult with the National Assembly and get back to you.'
The Constitutional Court has decided to conduct one more preparatory hearing for Administrator Jo's impeachment trial. The second preparatory hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. on the 22nd.