Law Professors Say “Impeachment Bill Deserves Dismissal”

One hundred thirty-three law professors among 51 universities nationwide on April 9 submitted a written opinion to the Constitutional Court saying, “Since the impeachment motion against President Roh Moo-hyun is not equipped with the requirements of the impeachment, it should be dismissed without the trial procedures.”

On this day, the professors had a press conference in a Neu-ti-na-mu cafe in Ankuk-dong before submitting the written opinion, and insisted, “We cannot admit the legitimacy of the approval of the impeachment bill because the impeachment reasons are not appropriate, and they didn’t abide by the procedures of National Assembly law.”

The professors also revealed, “There is no evidence to prove the corruption of president’s close aides and the economic failure, which were the impeachment reasons, and they do not constitute legal requirements. So considering the significance of the impeachment and the obviousness, it isn’t proper to leave it to the judicial judgment.”

The professors said, “This impeachment case is a political bout rather than a legal problem. So President Roh hardly escapes his responsibility.” They added, “Democracy has been ruined by both the government and opposition party who aimed only at the victory of the general elections while ignoring the people’s benefits.”

Yang-Hwan Jung ray@donga.com