Concerns over conflict of interest have persistently emerged regarding Justice Chung Kyesun, one of the two newly appointed Constitutional Court judges. On January 13, Yoon's defense team filed a recusal motion against Justice Chung over impartiality concerns, but the Constitutional Court unanimously rejected the motion.
Chung’s husband, Hwang Pil-gu, is an attorney who signed a petition last December calling for President Yoon's impeachment. Hwang is also affiliated with a public interest human rights law foundation called Gongam, where he works under Kim Yi-soo, the foundation's president, who is also co-leading the plaintiffs in the ongoing constitutional court trial over Yoon's impeachment.
Article 24 of the Constitutional Court Act allows a party to request the recusal of a judge if there are concerns about their impartiality. In line with this provision, President Yoon's legal team filed a motion seeking the recusal of Justice Chung, but the request was swiftly rejected the following day.
On January 14, Lee Jung-bae, a Seoul City Councilor from the ruling People Power Party, filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office against Judge Chung, accusing her of violating the Anti-Conflict of Interest Act, dereliction of duty, and obstruction of justice.
