Kim Yong-tae, chairperson of the People Power Party's emergency committee, criticized on the 9th that attorney Lee Seung-yeop, who had been in charge of President Lee Jae-myung's personal legal defense, is being considered for a position as a candidate for constitutional court justice, saying, “A conflict of interest could easily occur.”
Chairperson Kim noted on Facebook in the morning that, “Among the three candidates to succeed justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-seon, who retired on April 18th, attorney Lee Seung-yeop, who has defended President Lee Jae-myung in major cases including violations of the Public Official Election Act, is included, which has sparked controversy.”
He criticized, noting that “The presidential office says they don't understand what constitutes a conflict of interest regarding the opposition party's point,” adding, “Considering the fundamental common sense about appointments and especially the judiciary's neutrality, it is difficult to understand their claim of 'not understanding.'”
Chairperson Kim explained, “The 'Bulletproof Three Laws' that the Democratic Party is trying to pass in the plenary session are being pushed under the premise that the president might stand trial during the term. Alongside this, the so-called 'Judicial Appeals Act' being pushed would allow the Constitutional Court to judge the constitutionality of a Supreme Court ruling. Ultimately, this could lead to trials concerning the president's criminal actions being handed to the Constitutional Court after three levels of the judiciary.”
He further criticized by saying, “While it might be argued there is no conflict of interest at this moment, within the framework of the plans the Democratic Party is pushing, conflicts of interest are highly likely to occur,” and, “The situation where a constitutional court judge, who was the attorney for the president's alleged criminal actions, deliberates on those cases is unimaginably nonsensical and would degrade the dignity of the national judiciary.”
Earlier, on the previous day, Joo Jin-woo, the legal advisory chairperson of the People Power Party, also released a statement indicating this issue, emphasizing that “Hiring Lee Jae-myung's personal defense attorney as a constitutional court justice is a reward appointment and a conflict of interest.”
Attorney Lee Seung-yeop has defended President Lee Jae-myung in cases such as violations of the Public Official Election Act, perjury incitement, and the SSANGBANGWOOL North Korea remittance allegations. Politically, it has been pointed out that if Lee becomes a constitutional court justice, there could be a conflict of interest. In response, a presidential office official commented, “Is it the intention that someone involved in the person's case should not take public office, or is it unclear what constitutes a conflict of interest?”