▲ The Constitutional Court's eight justices -- (from L to R, rear) Chung Kye-sun, Kim Bok-hyeong, Jung Jung-mi, Lee Mi-son, Moon Hyung-bae, Kim Hyung-du, Cheong Hyung-sik and Cho Han-chang -- are seated at the court in Seoul on April 4, 2025, to deliver the court's ruling on whether to dismiss or reinstate impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) acting president-court justice

(LEAD) Acting president appoints 9th justice to Constitutional Court, names successors to retiring judges

(ATTN: UPDATES with Han's remarks, details; CHANGES headline)

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- Acting President Han Duck-soo on Tuesday appointed Ma Eun-hyuk as the ninth justice of the Constitutional Court, while nominating successors to two retiring judges.

In a statement to the nation, Han said he made the decision following careful consideration and after consulting with other Cabinet members as the issue of Ma's appointment has been a "source of much conflict until now."

Ma and two other justice nominees were confirmed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly late last year but only his appointment was delayed amid political wrangling over how the makeup of the nine-member bench would affect the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Ma's appointment Tuesday came four days after the court -- with only eight justices -- removed Yoon from office.

With 10 days to go until the retirements of justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son, Han said he has nominated Lee Wan-kyu, minister of government legislation, and Ham Sang-hun, a justice of the Seoul High Court, as their replacements.

"This was done in consideration of the fact that an impeachment motion against the deputy prime minister for economic affairs could pass the National Assembly at any time," Han said, referring to Choi Sang-mok, who is accused by the former opposition of delaying Ma's appointment during his time as acting president.

"Under such circumstances, in the event there are delays in the Constitutional Court's decision (on Choi's potential impeachment) due to additional vacancies, I judged that serious disruptions would be inevitable to managing the presidential election, preparing an essential extra budget and responding to trade issues."

Meanwhile, Han said he has appointed Ma Yong-joo, a former senior judge of the Seoul High Court, as a Supreme Court justice.

(END)

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