The ruling Democratic Party intends to push ahead with legislation to halt criminal trials for sitting presidents, despite the Seoul High Court’s decision to indefinitely postpone President Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation retrial.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, party chief spokesperson Jo Seoung-lae said although the court suspended Lee’s retrial for as long as he is in office, the president is currently standing trial in a number of other cases. 

The spokesperson said leaving those decisions to each individual court could result in arbitrary interpretations of the spirit of the country’s Constitution.

Accordingly, Jo said there is no reason for his party to delay its efforts to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, with a plenary vote likely on Thursday.

In announcing its decision to postpone a June 18 hearing in Lee’s case under the election law, the Seoul High Court cited Article 84 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the president shall not be charged with a criminal offense during his tenure of office, except for insurrection or treason.