Constitutional Court Dismisses Challenges to President Lee Jae-myung's Immunity

On July 2, the Constitutional Court of Korea dismissed multiple constitutional challenges regarding the postponement of President Lee Jae-myung's criminal trial, which was delayed under Article 84 of the Constitution. This article stipulates that the president cannot be prosecuted while in office, except in cases of insurrection or treason. The court stated that the constitutionality of the article itself cannot be reviewed, thus failing to meet the criteria for judicial examination. Additionally, two other constitutional petitions questioning the constitutionality of the trial delays and the application of presidential immunity were also dismissed, with the court clarifying that court rulings are not subject to constitutional review. A similar petition is currently under consideration. Previously, the Seoul High Court and the Seoul Central District Court had canceled scheduled hearings in cases involving violations of the Public Official Election Act and the Daejang-dong incident, citing Article 84 as the reason for indefinite postponement.