Seoul: Acting President Han Duck-soo has appointed Ma Eun-hyuk as the ninth justice of the Constitutional Court and named successors to two retiring judges. In a statement to the nation, Han announced the decision after consulting with Cabinet members, addressing the prolonged conflict over Ma's appointment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ma, along with two other justice nominees, was confirmed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly last year. However, Ma's appointment was delayed due to political disputes concerning the impact on the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The appointment comes shortly after the court, operating with only eight justices, removed Yoon from office.
With the impending retirements of justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son, Han nominated Lee Wan-kyu, minister of government legislation, and Ham Sang-hun, a justice from the Seoul High Court, as their replacements. Han emphasized the necessity of these nominations given the potential for an impeachment motion against the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Choi Sang-mok, who had previously delayed Ma's appointment.
Han expressed concerns over potential disruptions in the Constitutional Court's decision-making process, which could affect the management of the presidential election, budget preparation, and trade issue responses. Furthermore, Han appointed Ma Yong-joo, a former senior judge of the Seoul High Court, as a Supreme Court justice.