Constitutional Court Will Hold First Impeachment Hearing on March 30


By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

The Constitutional Court on Thursday requested President Roh Moo-hyun testify during its first hearing on March 30 to look into the National Assembly’s impeachment of the head of state, court officials said.

``The Court asked Roh and a lawmaker on Friday to testify before the court during the first hearing based on a decision by the justices,’’ Constitutional Court spokesman Chun Jong-ik said. ``If Roh doesn’t appear, the hearing on March 30 will be postponed, and another date will be set.’’

It is uncertain whether Roh will accept the summons and appear for testimony on March 30.

In a statement Roh delivered through his defense counsel to the court on Tuesday, Roh hinted that he doesn’t want to appear at the court for testimony. ``If possible, the president will speak through his lawyers during the hearings,’’ Roh was quoted by his lawyers as saying.

Earlier in the day, Yun Young-chul, the court’s president and also one of its nine justices, said the court has set its first hearing for March 30 and Roh will be called in for testimony on that day.

``We will summon people from the two sides for the first hearing and listen to them,’’ Yun told reporters.

The first two to be called to appear before the court include Rep. Kim Ki-choon of the Grand National Party, chairman of National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The Assembly passed the motion last Friday with 193 opposition lawmakers voting for the impeachment of Roh, sending shock waves throughout the country.

Former presidential secretary for civil affairs Moon Jae-in and lawyer Ha Kyung-chul, who is leading the defense counsel team for Roh, have requested the court show due respect for the head of state if he decides to appear to testify, according to court officials.

If the testimony is given, Roh will express his opinions on the reasons the opposition parties _ the Grand National Party and Millennium Democratic Party _ cited for his impeachment. The parties criticized Roh for engaging in illegal pre-election campaigning for the pro-government Uri Party ahead of the April 15 elections.

Roh’s alleged involvement in corruption scandals and his responsibility for the worsening economy are also some of the reasons.

Roh’s aides have said the opposition parties’ claims lack substantial evidence.

The first hearing will take place two weeks before the general elections on April 15. It is not yet clear how long it will take until a ruling is made. Roh’s supporters have expressed their wish for the ruling to be made before the elections, but legal experts say the ruling will take longer.

Public approval ratings of the pro-Roh Uri Party have soared in contrast to the ever-falling popularity of the opposition parties since the impeachment motion was passed on Friday. Roh’s presidential powers were suspended with the decision.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr