Kim Sang-hwan, the nominee for the president of the Constitutional Court (59, 20th Judicial Research and Training Institute), said on the 21st, "I have no personal connection with President Lee Jae-myung." He also noted that if he becomes the president of the Constitutional Court, "I will ensure that everyone in the nation can understand that the trials are conducted solely in accordance with the Constitution and laws."
The nominee Kim answered this during the confirmation hearing for the president of the Constitutional Court held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, starting at 10 a.m. on the 21st, in response to a question from Seo Beom-soo, a member of the People Power Party, asking, "Did you have any connection with President Lee, the appointing authority, before?"
Seo asked the nominee about Lee's acquittal by the Supreme Court regarding the Public Official Election Act in 2020, saying, "You expressed the opinion that a certain degree of passive lying by politicians is acceptable during a TV debate. Do you still hold that belief?"
In response, the nominee Kim stated, "It is not a decision that carries the active meaning of allowing lies," and added, "I did not make that judgment with that intention."
Seo asked, "There are concerns that if you become the president of the Constitutional Court, you will judge according to what President Lee wants, like a vending machine." In reply, Kim said, "I will be conscious of the fact that my judgment and conduct are directly related to the trust that the (Constitutional) Court has built over time."
During his time as a Supreme Court Justice in 2020, the nominee Kim provided an opinion of acquittal in the appeals case of President Lee, who was indicted on charges of publicizing false information related to the forced hospitalization of his older brother.
Seo questioned, "If you hadn't made a judgment of acquittal regarding President Lee at that time, would he have nominated you?" and noted, "With the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act related to Article 84 of the Constitution regarding the president's immunity from prosecution, it seems that the president nominated you as the president of the Constitutional Court for related reviews. Doesn't it seem like a shield for his trial?"
In response, the nominee Kim stated, "It is difficult to respond to questions regarding the president's appointments as a candidate for the (Constitutional Court)." He requested understanding, saying, "I believe it is not appropriate to answer such questions as a candidate."
Park Ji-hye, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked Kim about the Supreme Court's decision in May this year to overturn President Lee's conviction for violation of the Public Official Election Act, saying, "There have been strong criticisms that the Supreme Court failed to maintain political neutrality. Do you agree?"
Kim replied, "As I fundamentally have not been involved in the Supreme Court's deliberations, it is not appropriate for me to provide a specific evaluation of the Supreme Court's judgment."