hankyoreh

party leader Lee Jeong-hee (far left) and other party members hold placards opposing the possible disbandment

The fate of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) will be decided on Dec. 19 in a first-ever judgment in South Korean constitutional history on whether to forcibly disband a political party.

The Constitutional Court announced on Dec. 17 that a sentence in the UPP disbandment case would be handed down at 10 am on Dec. 19.

The judges set the date after holding a final conference earlier that morning. Sources reported that Constitutional Court president Park Han-chul asserted his authority to designate a specific date.

December 19 also happens the be the second anniversary of President Park Geun-hye’s election.

Disbanding a political party requires the agreement of six out of nine Constitutional Court judges. Once a decision to disband is made, it enters effect immediately.

In addition to that decision, the court also appears set to issue a judgment on whether five UPP lawmakers - Kim Mi-hyui, Oh Byung-yun, Lee Sang-kyu, Lee Seok-ki, and Kim Jae-yeon - will keep their seats. Live coverage will be provided for the ruling.

Members of the UPP expressed consternation at the sentencing date decision, which comes as they prepare for a Dec. 22 convention to elect a new party leader.

“The sentencing date was set less than a month after final arguments on Nov. 25. We cannot help suspecting that the haste to set a date without sufficient hearing is the result of sentencing pressure this year from the Saenuri Party [NFP],” the party said.

Park reportedly told ruling and opposition party lawmakers in an October parliamentary audit that he intended to have a ruling within the year.

The Ministry of Justice requested the disbandment ruling in Nov. 2013, claiming the UPP’s goals and activities violated the Constitution. The Constitutional Court has held 18 open arguments in the past year, with the party and ministry waging an intense legal battle.

By Lee Kyung-mi, staff reporter

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