Legal representatives for Lim Seong-geun have expressed regret over the National Assembly’s decision to impeach him on alleged judicial power abuse. 

In a statement released following the impeachment motion approval against the senior Busan High Court judge on Thursday, his lawyers said thorough and prudent fact checking should be made in advance before the parliament to proceed with the important Constitutional process of impeachment. 

They argued, however, the Assembly voted on the motion only based on prosecution’s arguments and parts of the verdict statement from the lower court although the case is still being reviewed by the appeals court. 

They also pointed out the parliament even skipped the process of investigation by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, calling the motion approval “hard to accept” and “very regrettable.”

Stressing Lim was acquitted of power abuse charges in the first trial, they said they will fully explain during the upcoming Constitutional Court deliberation that he did not committee any major, impeachable violation of the Constitution and law. 

Lim is accused of meddling in politically controversial trials in 2015 and 2016, such as a libel suit filed by the government against a Japanese journalist who questioned ex-President Park's whereabouts when the Sewol ferry sank in April 2014.

The senior judge also allegedly asked a judge to rewrite a sentencing statement on left-leaning lawyers charged with illegal demonstrations and stepped in to mitigate penalties on two professional baseball players involved in illegal overseas gambling.

In February last year, a Seoul court acquitted Lim of power abuse charges but acknowledged his "unconstitutional act" of meddling in a trial.