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| ▲ Newly appointed Constitutional Court justice Ma Eun-hyuk speaks to the press ahead of his inauguration ceremony at the court in Seoul's Jongno ward on April 9, 2025. (Yonhap) |
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New Constitutional Court justice vows to rule only based on constitutional principles
SEOUL, April 9 (Yonhap) -- Ma Eun-hyuk, a new Constitutional Court justice, vowed Wednesday to uphold constitutional principles, while dismissing concerns raised by the conservative bloc about his "ideological bias."
Ma made the remarks during the inauguration ceremony earlier in the day, after acting President Han Duck-soo appointed him Tuesday as the ninth court justice following months of his delayed appointment in the midst of the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
"I am well aware of the worrisome perceptions in our society regarding my appointment as Constitutional Court justice," Ma, the opposition-recommended justice, said at the sworn-in ceremony.
"I will translate the Constitution only based on the values prescribed by our Constitution, such as the principle of popular sovereignty, liberal democracy, rule of law, and the principle of social states," he said.
Ma also vowed to take on his duties with a balanced view and impartial attitude, adding he would "respect but not blindly obey" the majority opinion, and "listen but not lean toward" the voices of the minority.
His appointment came after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon on Friday over his short-lived martial law bid in December, formally removing him from office.
Ma and two other justice nominees were confirmed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly late last year. But only his appointment had been delayed amid political wrangling over how the makeup of the nine-member bench would affect Yoon's impeachment trial.
Han also nominated successors Tuesday to two retiring judges at the Constitutional Court. The Democratic Party said the acting leader "overstepped" his authority by wielding presidential nomination powers and threatened to consider seeking legal action against the move.
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