National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik on Dec. 8 condemned a joint public statement by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, calling it unconstitutional and misleading to the public.
“Power does not reside in the president’s pocket, nor can the transfer of that authority be decided at the president’s discretion,” Woo said during an emergency press conference at the National Assembly. “Presenting unconstitutional actions as legitimate through such a statement is a serious affront to the sovereignty of the people and the Constitution.”
Woo cited Article 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution, which states, “The sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides in the people, and all state authority emanates from the people.” He underscored that both the delegation and transfer of presidential power must strictly follow constitutional principles and the rule of law.
“The Constitution clearly outlines procedures for holding a president accountable for serious violations of constitutional and legal duties, including impeachment,” Woo said. “It also specifies how authority is delegated if the president is unable to perform their duties. The claim by the prime minister and the ruling party to jointly exercise presidential authority without constitutional grounds is a blatant violation.”
Woo urged an immediate halt to all actions that lack constitutional legitimacy. “Governance can only be stabilized when it adheres to the Constitution and earns the trust of the people,” he said. He also called on public officials, including the military and police, to remain steadfast in fulfilling their duties under the law.
Proposing a path forward, Woo called for bipartisan talks to address the current national crisis, including suspending the president’s duties to restore stability.
