By Kim Se-jeong
The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) are at odds over President Lee Myung-bak’s pick for the Constitutional Court president.
On Jan. 3, the Presidential office announced that the president nominated Lee Dong-heup, a former justice at the Constitutional Court, to lead the Court. Lee was one of nine justices at the Court between 2009 and September last year.
The DUP jumped to voice its opposition to the nomination. In a press conference held on Jan. 4 at the National Assembly, Jung Sung-ho, the DUP’s spokesman, condemned Cheong Wa Dae for its political intention and demanded the presidential office nullify the decision. "Although the announcement was made by the president, it’s obvious that President-elect Park Geun-hye’s interest was reflected.”
According to the DUP’s statistics, if confirmed, Lee will be the fifth out of nine justices that is from either Gyeongsang Province or Daegu where the president-elect is from.
Plus, since the Constitution was reformed in 1987, four Court presidents have been nominated, and he will the only person whose hometown is as same as the president who appoints him or her.
The spokesman also cited Lee’s ruling history as basis for the DUP’s opposition.
“As a justice, he made ultra-conservative rulings that ran contrary to common sense,” Jung said.