South Korean Constitutional Court partially lifts exclusion of Rep. Lee Jin-sook

The Constitutional Court of South Korea has partially granted an injunction filed by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-sook, suspending the effect of her exclusion from the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee audits. The court ruled that while a lawmaker cannot be comprehensively barred from audits, they may be excluded from specific matters where they have a direct interest or where impartiality cannot be guaranteed.

Consequently, Lee is permitted to attend the comprehensive audits, but she remains barred from questioning four specific categories of issues related to her previous tenure as Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission. These include the recommendation of KBS directors, the appointment of the EBS president, and matters involving criminal allegations regarding her use of corporate cards and potential perjury.

The ruling has sparked intense political conflict. The Democratic Party argues the decision is not an acquittal, emphasizing that the exclusion for conflict-of-interest matters remains intact. Conversely, Lee and the People Power Party contend the ruling is a victory against the “majority tyranny” of the opposition, asserting that the court recognized the constitutional rights of a lawmaker.