The Constitutional Court announced that Justices Ma Eun-hyuk and Oh Young-jun officially visited the Spanish Constitutional Court on July 7 (local time).
In a press release on July 9, the court stated that the justices examined the operation of Spain's advanced constitutional complaint system and engaged in in-depth discussions on future development plans.
During their meeting with Cándido Conde Pumpido Tourón, President of the Spanish Constitutional Court, the justices exchanged views on the practical operation and development of the constitutional complaint system.
President Conde Pumpido described the constitutional complaint system in Spain as "the most essential system for effectively guaranteeing the basic rights of citizens," emphasizing its significant role in fulfilling the court's mission to strengthen democracy through proper constitutional interpretation.
He added, "It is natural that the judiciary must prioritize the protection of the constitution, just like other public powers." He noted that while the system initially faced inevitable conflicts with general courts, the Constitutional Court has successfully fulfilled its role as a guardian, leading to a general acceptance of its authority to control constitutional violations arising from judicial actions.
Additionally, the justices, along with accompanying constitutional researchers and staff, held a practical meeting with Andrés Javier Gutiérrez Gil, Secretary of the Spanish Constitutional Court, to discuss procedural issues related to the Spanish constitutional complaint system.
During this meeting, they listened to the practical operation of the Spanish constitutional complaint system and discussed specific issues such as the pre-examination procedures and criteria of designated panels, the composition and operation of research departments, and ways to enhance the efficiency of adjudication processes.
Secretary Gutiérrez noted, "In Spain, the accumulation of decisions regarding constitutional complaints over a long period has fostered a culture that respects basic rights throughout society compared to before the system was introduced."
He also mentioned that there has been significant improvement in basic rights sensitivity when general courts handle cases, expressing hope that Spain's experiences will serve as a valuable foundation for the operation of South Korea's constitutional complaint system.
The justices agreed to continue sharing relevant materials by visiting the Spanish Constitutional Court library and conducted in-depth discussions with constitutional researcher Tomás de la Cuadra Salcedo on July 8.
The Constitutional Court stated, "This visit has provided insights for the stable establishment and development of South Korea's constitutional complaint system, and we hope for strengthened cooperation between the two institutions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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