Provisional Disposition to Suspend Assemblymen’s Service Overruled

The Seoul Central District Court on March 17 rejected the petition of provisional disposition, which a former legislator Suh Kyung-won and “the citizens’ group for building Korea” had filed to suspend the duties of 271 representatives, at the 16th National Assembly.

“The provisional disposition can only be filed by a person who has lawful interest from a relation in dispute,” said the court. “In terms of protecting individual rights based on the definition of provisional disposition, what Suh had filed against the lawmakers cannot be taken as an appropriate interest.”

It also added that Suh and “the citizens’ group” have no right of directly requesting the assemblymen’s displacement under the standing rules.

The ex-lawmaker and “the citizens’ group” filed for provisional disposition on March 13, saying the passage of President Roh’s impeachment was abruptly pushed by lawmakers who were desperate for the approaching general election scheduled in April, without asking for the people’s opinion.

Sang-Rok Lee myzodan@donga.com