Constitutional Court on Democratic Party's Bill to Move to Gwangju: "Must Consider Public Accessibility and Convenience"

Seoul Jongno-gu Constitutional Court Grand Bench / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Constitutional Court has effectively expressed opposition to the amendment bill proposed by some members of the Democratic Party of Korea to relocate the Constitutional Court to Gwangju Metropolitan City.

On the 21st, the Constitutional Court responded to a query from Yusangbeom, a member of the People Power Party, regarding the amendment bill pending before the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stating, "We must comprehensively consider the accessibility and convenience for the people."

The Constitutional Court said, "We understand well the legislative intent of the amendment aimed at alleviating overpopulation in the metropolitan area and promoting balanced national development," but emphasized, "However, the location of the Constitutional Court, the only independent institution performing constitutional adjudication functions, is closely related to the public’s exercise of the constitutional right to file constitutional complaints."

Earlier, Min Hyungbae, a Democratic Party member, proposed an amendment bill in July last year to relocate the Constitutional Court from Jongno-gu, Seoul, to Gwangju Metropolitan City. The main point of the amendment is to add a clause stating, "The Constitutional Court shall be located in Gwangju Metropolitan City."

Min argued, "The relocation of the Constitutional Court does not raise constitutional issues; rather, it is a national institution where strong political neutrality is required," adding, "It is desirable to physically distance it from the center of administrative power." He also added, "Gwangju is an appropriate location for the Constitutional Court, a national institution that protects the constitutional order."

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