법원, ‘헌법재판소 재판 지연’ 심사 개시…“헌재 사건기록 제출 요청”

The court has resumed a trial after a four-year delay, initiating a full examination into the prolonged decision-making process of the Constitutional Court. The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 50th Branch (Rear Admiral Seonbeom) began its second second round of hearings for a case involving Representative Jung Tae-woo, who was accused of violating the Unification and Cooperation Treaty for North-South Relations.

In 2018, Jung was sentenced to a 300 million won fine for importing North Korean materials without government authorization, which violated the Unification and Cooperation Treaty for North-South Relations. During the first trial in July 2022, the court suspended proceedings due to the Constitutional Court's delay, stating that the defendant's right to a fair trial was infringed upon.

The court has now formally requested all case records from the Constitutional Court, arguing that the postponement of the Constitutional Court's decision impacted the defendant's right to a fair trial. The court cited Article 107(2) of the Constitution, granting the Supreme Court the final authority to review any proceedings that violate the Constitution or laws.

The judge suggested that the trial's uncertainty could be seen as a violation of the defendant's basic rights, given the long delay. The court also requested the Constitutional Court to provide the case records, either directly or through formal requests, to facilitate the ongoing examination of the Constitutional Court's handling of the case.