On the afternoon of the 31st, the opposition-led "Constitutional Court Act amendment bill" was passed by the National Assembly's Judicial Affairs Subcommittee.
The two bills on the agenda at the Judicial Affairs Committee's plenary session that day were proposed by Democratic Party lawmakers. They include ▲ a provision that allows for the extension of the term of Constitutional Court Justices (proposed by Lee Seong-yun) and ▲ a provision that prevents the acting head of state from exercising the power to appoint Constitutional Court Justices during presidential duties suspension (proposed by Kim Yong-min).
According to the amendment bills, it will be possible to extend the term of Constitutional Court Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun, whose terms expire on April 18.
On that day, ruling party lawmakers left the Judicial Affairs Subcommittee, deeming it a "violation of the rule of law." Lawmakers from the People Power Party claimed, "It is not possible to extend the term of justices, which is stipulated as six years in the Constitution, through legislation."
The Democratic Party considered it to be a "temporary measure" to extend the justices' term until a successor arrives. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Bum-kye said, "This bill itself is designed in anticipation of an emergency situation where the number of justices is reduced to six due to the impeachment trial of President Yoon not being concluded by the time the retiring Justices Moon and Lee leave office."
The ruling party's secretary, Yoo Sang-beom of the People Power Party, said, "This means we will continue to operate the Constitutional Court with the existing justices," adding, "Ultimately, it puts us in a position where we have no choice but to request the current administration to exercise pressure on this matter."