This paper aims for a review of current status and evaluation of statutory interpretation concluded by Statutory Interpretation Deliberation Committee (hereinafter called SIDC) under the Ministry of Government Legislation(hereinafter called MOLEG) in Korea. Statutory interpretation has been an important mission since foundation of MOLEG and some regulations concerning it were enacted in 1949. The Working Regulations for MOLEG was revised in 2005 and SIDC was newly established and civilians can request statutory interpretation as well as officers of central and local governments. Though statutory interpretation system has been developed rapidly, its applicants and objects need to be examined more carefully to improve the current system. The Working Regulations for MOLEG expressly provides SIDC shall interpretate Acts, Presidential Decrees, Prime Minister's Decrees and Minister's Decrees. It is still doubtable whether the Constitution, Acts and Decrees governed neither by the Prime Minister nor by the Executive can also be objects for authoritative interpretation done by SIDC. Basically I have a negative opinion about this issue on the ground of respect for principle of check and balance of government power. Statutory Interpretation by SIDC for these laws and decrees might be done only for the purpose of uniformity and consistency of administration in the Executive. Ordinances of local governments shall not be objects of statutory interpretation of SIDC in consideration of theory of local autonomy. However, provisions relating to local autonomy may be enacted within the limits of acts and subordinated statutes under Korean Constitution. Therefore SIDC shall interpretate ordinances of local governments with authority to confirm them with Acts and Subordinated Statutes. The newly revised Working Regulations for MOLEG permits civilians to request statutory interpretation, but the National Assembly and its members are excluded. They should also be able to become applicants for statutory interpretation to obtain official opinion of the Executive about specific Acts and Decrees to supervise it. It is also a hot issue whether statutory interpretation of SIDC has binding effect or not. I think that judicial binding effect shall not be granted, but administrational binding effect shall be given. The current statutory interpretation system has also some other problems such as composition of SIDC, its relationship with the Minister of MOLEG and its decision process.
목차
1. 글머리에 2. 법제처 법령유권해석 제도의 연혁 3. 법제처 법령유권해석의 대상 4. 법제처 법령유권해석의 신청권자 5. 법제처 법령유권해석의 심의절차와 효력 6. 법제처 법령유권해석의 운영에 대한 평가 Abstract
오늘날 대륙법계 국가는 물론 영미법계 국가에서도 제정법의 중요성이 점증하고 있음에도 불구하고 그동안 법학의 주된 관심은 해석법학에 머무르고 있는 것이 현실이다. 같은 맥락에서 법률전문가들도 한결 같이 법의 해석·적용에만 천착하고 있을 뿐이며 해석·적용의 전제가 되는 입법 자체에 대하여 관심과 소양을 가지고 있는 전문가는 찾아보기 힘든 실정이다. 국민의 여론을 충실히 반영하면서도 형평성과 체계성·조화성 등을 고루 갖추어 헌법과 입법원칙에 부합하는 입법이 적시에 이루어진다면 불필요한 법적 분쟁을 예방하고 국민의 법 생활을 윤택하게 하며 법치주의의 성공적인 구현에 크게 기여할 수 있을 것이다. 입법학회는 이러한 전제 하에 올바른 입법을 위한 이론적 토대를 마련하기 위한 학문적 탐구를 진행하고자 함.