The constitutional case surrounding the left-wing Unified Progressive Party wrapped up Tuesday, fanning speculation that the Constitutional Court will pass a ruling within the year.

On Nov. 5, 2013, the Ministry of Justice filed a constitutional petition calling for the UPP to be disbanded, claiming that the party was pro-North Korea.

Citing the UPP’s constitution, which it claims is heavily influenced by North Korean ideology, the Justice Ministry is arguing that the party should be disbanded.

The UPP constitution states that a “progressive democratic society truly owned by the people” should be established. The Justice Ministry argues that the expression is effectively the same as an article of North Korea’s constitution that states “sovereignty is with the workers, farmers, educated workers and all working people.”

The ministry’s claims, however, have prompted mixed reviews from South Korean scholars, with some arguing that the expression “progressive democracy” is a commonly used political phrase that can have various meanings.

In the final day of proceedings before the Constitutional Court passes its ruling, Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and UPP leader Lee Jung-hee once again clashed, arguing about their separate claims. 

Hwang said that the UPP was a “stronghold of pro-North Korean groups” and that the party was a “cancerous entity” that aims to bring down South Korea.

“The freedom to establish and operate a party requires upholding the Constitution as a prerequisite, but the UPP is an anti-Constitutional entity whose objective, organization and operations are all far removed from democracy,” Hwang said.

The UPP, for its part, claims that the government has been oppressing a minority party, and that the case was fabricated as a ploy to cover up the National Intelligence Service’s alleged “evidence fabrication” to bring down Rep. Lee Seok-ki.

Lee was arrested shortly before the Justice Ministry filed the petition for allegedly planning an armed attack against South Korea. He has been sentenced to a nine-year jail term, and the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case is expected early next year.

Although the court has not set a date for the announcement of its ruling, speculations that the ruling will be made within the year have been fueled by comments from its chief.

After the parliamentary audit last month, Constitutional Court President Park Han-chul indicated that the ruling would be reached before the end of the year.

At the time, he also said that the process was taking longer than usual for cases reviewed by the Constitutional Court due to the large volume of evidence provided by the UPP and the Justice Ministry. Since the case began, nearly 170,000 pages of documents have been submitted.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)