The decision on the impeachment case of South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck Soo may be made in March, reports the Yonhap news agency.
The Constitutional Court concluded the hearings on the case just 1.5 hours after the start of the first session, though the exact date for issuing the decision has not yet been determined. It is expected that the decision will be made in March, after the judges’ deliberations and the preparation of the ruling’s text.
At the court session, Han Duck Soo, who was temporarily removed from office by parliament due to accusations of facilitating the imposition of illegal martial law, stated that he had not been informed in advance about President Yoon Suk-yeol’s plans and made every effort to convince him to reconsider his decision. He also explained his agreement with the leader of the ruling party, Han Dong-hoon, as an attempt for “stable governance,” not an effort to usurp power.
Furthermore, Han Duck Soo explained that his decision not to appoint new judges to the Constitutional Court was based on concerns that the candidates had not undergone the necessary agreement between the ruling party and the opposition. He also stated that the opposition’s initiatives to investigate the president and his circle could deepen societal divisions and threaten the constitutional order.
Members of parliament, in turn, emphasized that the Constitution does not require mandatory agreement on legislative bills with the ruling party. They noted that if not for the opposition’s actions regarding the impeachment, the Constitutional Court would not be functioning properly. The chairperson of the parliamentary committee on legislation and judicial affairs, Jeong Cheon-nae, also pointed out that Han Duck Soo, despite his knowledge of the illegality of imposing martial law, took no significant action except for expressing his disagreement.
