No Refutation of Legitimacy of Constitutional Court’s Decision

Responding to the Constitutional Court’s decision that the special law for capital relocation is unconstitutional, President Roh Moo-hyun said yesterday, “Even though there are various opinions and evaluations of that decision, nobody can rebut the legitimacy of their conclusion.”

President Roh indirectly expressed his acceptance of the court’s decision in an administrative policy speech in the face of submitting estimates for the budget and a plan for fund operations in 2005, which was delivered by Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan on Roh’s behalf at a plenary session of the National Assembly.

“President Roh admits the legitimacy of the court’s decision, which also means Roh regards the grounds of this decision and following orders as pertinent,” said presidential spokesperson Kim Jong-min at a news conference.

In addition, Roh said, “We will set up a new plan that is not contradictory to the decision of the Constitutional Court while at the same time is not defiant of the object of a national, balanced development strategy, and be sure to push ahead with this plan,” adding, “We also will comprehensively re-examine all policies related to the development of the Chungcheong area, which has prepared itself for capital relocation, and its adjacent areas, which have relevant public organizations located near their neighborhoods.”

At a presidential aides and senior secretaries meeting, which was presided over by President Roh at the same day, they concluded that “Even though it is disputable that the court ordered all to follow the constitutional revision process stipulated in a written constitution in order to transform the customary constitution, the legitimacy of its decision should be accepted,” said a spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae.

Meanwhile, Grand National Party spokeswomen Jeon Yeo-ok was critical, saying, “President Roh expressed his unwillingness to accept the Constitutional Court’s decision indirectly and therefore left room for further disputes on this issue,” adding, “The president should accept the court’s decision without hesitation, which is a call from nations which cherish democracy and constitutionalism.”

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com