Impeached ex-president's supporters lose bid for compensation

Park Geun-hye (Yonhap)

The appellate division of the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday ruled against supporters of former President Park Geun-hye, denying their request for compensation for their psychological pain due to what they claim was the "unjust impeachment of Park."

The plaintiffs, including a former reporter of the local Monthly Chosun magazine, filed a civic lawsuit against the state and eight justices of the Constitutional Court at the time of Park's impeachment in March 2013. The Constitutional Court unanimously ruled in favor of her impeachment, upholding the parliamentary decision that called for Park to step down immediately.

Park, 72, was found guilty on charges of corruption and abuse of power and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. She was released from prison in December 2021 after being pardoned by then-President Moon Jae-in.

The plaintiffs claimed that the Constitutional Court's decision was without evidence, and sought 140 million won ($104,600) for their supposed psychological damage, but had lost the case in an earlier ruling by the Seoul court.

The court had said that based on the evidence provided by the plaintiffs, it cannot say that the judges had used their authority in a way that was not in accordance with their duties stipulated by the law, or with a purpose that was unjust or against the law.

By Yoon Min-sik(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)