A Critical Review on Composition of the Constitutional Court of Korea

Authors

  • Sang-Hyeon Jeon Seoul National University (SNU), Seoul, Korea

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev1011

Keywords:

Appointment of Justices, Constitutional Court Composition, Constitutional Court of Korea, Democratic Legitimacy, Judicial Independence, Term of Office

Abstract

The composition of the Constitutional Court is a crucial aspect for the realization of constitutionalism. While the Constitutional Court has been praised for its significant contributions to the establishment of constitutional democracy in Korea, there have been criticisms regarding the composition of the Court in both its institutional structure and operational practices. The Constitutional Court of Korea consists of nine justices. Although these nine justices are formally appointed by the President of Korea, three are elected by the National Assembly, and three are designated by the Chief of the Supreme Court. This means that the President, the majority of the National Assembly, and even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can each choose three justices on their own without any consent or approval from other branches. This raises concerns about the lack of democratic legitimacy, judicial independence and the expertise of the Constitutional Court. Additionally, there are constitutional issues such as the relatively short term of office, the reappointment, the absence of a specified term for the Chief Justice, and the potential for prolonged vacancies of seats.

References

Abraham, Henry J. Justices and Presidents: A Political History of Appointments to the Supreme Court, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.

Act on the German Federal Constitutional Court, Part 1, Section 6(1), 7.

Bickel, Alexander. The Least Dangerous Branch, New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc., 1962.

Cappelletti, Cappelletti. Judicial Review in the Contemporary World. Indianapolis,

Kansas City, New York: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1971.

Chong, Jong-Sup. Heonbeonsosongbeob [Constitutional Litigation]. Seoul: Parkyoung Publishing & Company, 2008.

Davis, Richard. Electing Justice: Fixing the Supreme Court Nomination Process. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Epstein, Lee and Eric A. Posner. "Supreme Court's Justices' Loyalty to the President." The Journal of Legal Studies 45, no.2, (June 2016): 401. https:// www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/epdf/10.1086/688395.

Hae-Cheol, Byun. "Indonesia Heonbeobjaepanjedo-e Gwanhan Sogo [A Study on The Indonesian Constitutional Review System]" HUFS Law Review 41, nO.1 (2017): 103.

Hakseon, Jeon. "Italia-ui Heonbeobjepanjedo [La Justice constituionnelle en Italie]" World Constitutional Law Review 16, no. 3 (2010): 543.

Hangyooreh Newspaper. "The Chief of SC Yang's Supreme Court Plans to Weaken the Constitutional Court Through Designating Low-profile Judges." August 8, 2018. https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/856847.html

Han, Dong-Hoon et al. Heonbeobjaepanso Jepangwanuie Jagyeok, Guseongbangsik Mit Imgi [The Composition of Constitutional Court, Qualifications and Term of Office of a Justice]. Seoul: Constitutional Research Institute, 2011.

Han, Soo-Woong. Heonbeobhak [Constitutional Law]. Seoul: Bobmun Sa, 2021.

He-Su, Choi. "Heonbeobjaepanso Gusung Immyoung Deonggwa Gwanleonhan Gaejongbanghyang [Directions for Amending the Constitutional Law and Constitutional Court Law for the Appointment, Personnel Structure, etc. of Constitutional Judges in the Korean Constitutional Court]." Constituional Law 17, no.2 (June 2011): 161.

Hwanghee Lee. "Heonbeob-Yeongugwan-Jedo-ui Model [Models of Judicial Assistants at Constitutional Courts]." Public Law 49, n0.4 (June 2021). 81.

Hyo-jin, Kim. "Constitutional Court's Justice nominee accused of illegally trading." The Korea Times, August 31, 2017. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/ www/nation/2024/03/113_235734.html.

Jongcheol, Kim. "Heonbeobjaepanso Guseongbangbeob-ui Gaehyeoglon [A Proposal for Reform in the Composition of the Constitutional Court]. Constitutional Law 11, no.2 (June 2005): 9.

Kim, Ha-Yurl. Heonbeonsosongbeob [Constitutional Litigation]. Seoul: Parkyong Publishing & Company, 2021.

Korean Constitutional Court, 2004 Hun-Na 1, May 14, 2004, vol.16 no.1, Korean Constitutional Court's Report, 609.

Korean Constitutional Court, 2004 Hun-Ma 554, October 21, 2004, vol.16, no.2-2,

Korean Constitutional Court's Report, 1.

Korean Constitutional Court, 2012 Hun-Ma 2, April 24, 2014, vol.26-1, nO.2,

Korean Constitutional Court's Report, 209.

Korean Constitutional Court, 2013 Hun-Da 1, December 19, 2014, vol.26, no.2-2,

Korean Constitutional Court's Report, 1.

Korean Constitutional Court, 2016 Hun-Na 1, March 10, 2017, vol.29, no.1,

Korean Constitutional Court's Report, 1.

Lee, Hyo-Won. Heonbeobjaepangangui [Lecture On Constitutinal Litigation]. Seoul: Parkyoung Publishing & Company, 2022.

Möllers, Christoph. "Legality, Legitimacy, and Legitimation of the Federal Constitutional Court." In The German Federal Constitutional Court: The Court Without Limit, ed. by Justin Collings, 131-196. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Schönberger, Christoph. "Karlsruhe." In The German Federal Constitutional Court: The Court Without Limit, edited by Justin Collings, 1-31. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020.

Sung, Nak-In. Heonbeonhak [Constitutional Law]. Paju: Bobmun Sa, 2023.

Sung, Sea Young and Hong Joon Hyung. "Heonbeobjaepanso Jaepangwan Insacheongmunhoee Natanan Jeongchiwa Sabeob-ui Gwangye [The Legislative-Judiciary Relationship Reflected in the Confirmation Hearings of the Constitutional Court's Justice of Korea: A Content Analysis of the Confirmation Committee Sessions of the Justice Nominee Cho Yong-hwan]." Korean Society and Public Administration 23, nO.3 (2012): 349.

The Constitutional Court of Korea. The Twenty Years Of The Constitutional Court. Seoul: The Constitutional Court of Korea, 2008.

The Constitution of Korea 1948, Article 47, 81.

The Constitution of Korea 1960, Article 83-4.

The Constitution of Korea 1962, Article 7(3), 62, 102(1).

The Constitution of Korea 1972, Article 40, 53, 109.

The Constitution of Korea 1987, Article 49, 104, 108, 111, 112, 114(2), 105(1), 130.

The Constitution of Indonesia, Article 24, 24C(3).

The Constitution of Italy, Article 135(1).

The Constitution of Mongolia, Article 65(1).

The Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria, Article 147(1).

The Constitution of Spain, Article 159(1).

The German Basic Law, Article 92.

The Constitutional Committee Act of Korea, Article 15.

The Constitutional Court Act of Korea 1961, Article 3(1).

The Constitutional Court Act of Korea, Article 6(3), 6(4), 7(2), 12(3), 19, 23(1), 23(2).

The National Assembly Act of Korea, Article 46-3(1), 65-2 (2).

The Personnel Hearing Act of Korea, Article 9(2), 11(2).

The Supreme Court, June 22th, 1971, 70 Da 1010 (Plenary Session).

Tushnet, Mark. Taking the Constitution Away from the Courts. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999.

Yoo, Jin-Oh. Heonbeob-Gicho-Hoegorok [The Memoirs of Drafting the Constitution]. Seoul: Iljogak, 1980.

Downloads

Published

2024-09-17

How to Cite

Jeon, S.-H. (2024). A Critical Review on Composition of the Constitutional Court of Korea. Constitutional Review, 10(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev1011

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.