By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter

The National Assembly’s prosecution team on Thursday was considering applying to the Constitutional Court for a measure that would obligate President Roh Moo-hyun’s appearance in the impeachment hearing.

Roh announced via his defense counsel his decision not to attend the first hearing, originally slated for next Tuesday, but depending on prosecutors’ moves, might be forced to against his will.

Lawmakers on the prosecution team hoped the court would request that the impeached president attend the hearing. But, they didn’t rule out a possibility that they would ask the court to take a stronger measure.

``The president ignored the authority of the Constitutional Court and the legal procedure by refusing to attend the impeachment hearing,’’ said Rep. Kim Yong-kyun, one of the prosecutors affiliated with the opposition Grand National Party. ``We will present to the Court our opinion that it is desirable for the president to attend the hearing to defend himself in person.’’

The nine-member Constitutional Court, in the meantime, convened its second full session in the afternoon to review the unprecedented impeachment case and to set another date for a hearing as Roh announced his nonattendance on Wednesday.

The nine judges also held extensive discussions on reasons the opposition parties cited for Roh’s impeachment. The opposition-controlled Assembly impeached President Roh on March 12 for alleged election law violations, corruption and incompetence.

In another related development, Moon Jae-in, who represents Roh’s defense counsel, said his team was considering presenting a constitutional petition regarding a clause of the election law.

``Article 9 of the Election Law, which states the public servants’ duty to neutrality can possibly breach the freedom of expression stipulated by the Constitution,’’ he said.


jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr