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| Hwang Kyo-ahn, chief of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party |
The appointments of the liberal-minded Lee Mi-sun and Moon Hyung-bae as new Constitutional Court members drew an immediate political backlash. The largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) vowed to stage an all-out protest against the liberal President. It said it will hold a rally in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, Saturday, to denounce what it called a "dictatorship by leftists."
Political turmoil is expected to deepen over the controversial appointments. The conservative parties had urged Moon to withdraw the nominations, particularly for Lee, citing her involvement in a massive stock trading scandal.
Cheong Wa Dae said President Moon pushed ahead with the appointments by using an electronic approval system, as he is on now a state visit to three Central Asian countries. This allows the two justices to immediately sit on the court's nine-member bench.
The LKP expressed its deep regret, saying the decision was a step to reinforce Moon's "dictatorship."
"The appointment is like completing the last piece of a puzzle from the leftist dictatorship," LKP floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won said. "Nine out of six constitutional justices are within the pro-Moon faction."
"The Moon Jae-in administration does not have to struggle to revise laws at the National Assembly," she said. She added that the incumbent administration is seeking to make laws unfavorable to the government unconstitutional by sending them to the Constitutional Court.
The main opposition party has urged Moon to remove senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk and senior secretary for personnel affairs Cho Hyun-ok for lax personnel verification.
The large-scale outside protest will be the first of its kind from the LKP since former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn became the chief of the largest opposition party in late February.
On Thursday, Hwang said he would stage an all-out war by mobilizing all means against the appointments.
Lee was at the center of a controversy after it became known that she and her husband owned stocks worth 3.5 billion won ($3 million). In particular, the LKP raised suspicions that the couple may have had access to inside information on some of the companies, citing dubious transactions.
The minor opposition Bareunmirae Party also voiced opposition to the President's appointment of Lee.
"It is abnormal for the President to appoint Lee as a constitutional court justice at a time when the suspicions surrounding her have not been resolved," party spokesman Kim Jong-chul said.
Backlash from ruling bloc
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), however, stepped up criticism of the LKP, urging the latter to stop "political maneuvering" against the government.
"The LKP is making groundless claims that Lee is ineligible for the post by instigating public opinion against her and triggering mudslinging," DPK floor leader Hong Young-pyo said. "Cheong Wa Dae followed due process in appointing Lee."
The ruling bloc went on to say that the opposition party should stop engaging in political strife and stay focused on its mission for the public.
Yoon Do-han, senior presidential secretary for public relations, said Friday that President Moon authorized the appointments of the two justices while on his state visit to Uzbekistan.
The two figures replace Cho Yong-ho and Suh Ki-suk, whose six-year-terms expired Thursday.
