Constitutional Court partially lifts ban, lets opposition lawmaker join audit
South Korea's Constitutional Court issued an injunction that permits Rep. Lee Jin-sook to attend a parliamentary audit, while still restricting her from speaking on issues directly involving her.
A Constitutional Court injunction on Wednesday partially reversed a National Assembly resolution that had sought to prevent opposition lawmaker Lee Jin-sook from participating in a parliamentary audit. The Democratic Party and allied minor parties had moved to exclude her, arguing that her past tenure as head of the Korea Communications Commission overlapped with the audit's focus on the broadcasting and communications watchdog.
Lee, representing the People Power Party, filed for judicial relief, leading to the court's temporary suspension of the exclusion. The order allows her to attend the upcoming audit session but bars her from speaking on any topics that directly involve her. The injunction will stay in force until the court issues a definitive ruling on the jurisdictional dispute over the Assembly's powers.
Lee described the ruling as natural and confirmed she would be present at the audit. The case marks the first instance of the Constitutional Court halting a parliamentary resolution that limits a lawmaker's audit participation.
Why it matters
It tests the balance of power between South Korea's legislature and its Constitutional Court over lawmakers' rights.
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