Ministry of Construction and Transportation Presented a Written Opinion with the Constitutional Court

The Ministry of Construction and Transportation (MOCT) on August 6 filed a constitutional petition with the Constitutional Court against the Act on Special Measures for Construction of the New Administrative Capital and a written opinion about applying for a provisional disposition to suspend the Presidential Committee on Administrative Capital Relocation.

Prior to that, on July 12, 169 member plaintiffs (with legal representatives including Lee Seok-yeon, Lee Moon-hoe, and Lee Young-mo), including 58 legislators of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, filed a constitutional petition and applied for a provisional disposition in order to suspend the presidential committee’s operation, arguing, “The New Capital Act infringes suffrage rights, tax payer’s rights, and the right to hear.”

Since the MOCT handed in the written opinion one week earlier than the deadline (August 14) set by the court, the court will soon try the case to decide whether the act is constitutional or not. Relevant parties, including Cheong Wa Dae, the Ministry of Justice, the presidential committee, and the municipal office of Seoul, will also present separate written opinions next week.

In its written opinion, the MOCT insisted, “Since the plaintiffs have not qualified for the application, the petition should be rejected.” “Even if they qualified, the evidence they claimed as being against the constitution is unsuitable,” it added. The MOCT also argued, “Once the presidential committee’s operation stops, there will be side effects, suspending pending issues and raising indemnity payments for land.”

Kwang-Hyun Kim kkh@donga.com