Yoon Says "Will Resist"... Exercises Authority by Submitting Supreme Court Justice Appointment Consent to National Assembly

Yoon Overturns 'Second-Term Retreat' Stance to Exercise Authority
Continues Approving Bills and Submits Appointment Consent Proposal

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News

It has been confirmed that President Yoon Suk-yeol submitted the nomination consent form for Supreme Court Justice Ma Yong-joo to the National Assembly. After refusing to resign early the previous day and stating that he would "stand firm and face it," President Yoon has officially returned to work and continues to exercise his authority.

According to the National Assembly's legislative information system on the 13th, President Yoon submitted the 'Nomination Consent Form for Supreme Court Justice Ma Yong-joo' to the National Assembly the day before. The reason for the proposal stated, "As the term of the Supreme Court Justice has expired, we request the consent of the National Assembly to appoint the following person as the successor Supreme Court Justice."

According to Article 104, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President with the consent of the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Earlier, on the 7th, ahead of the first National Assembly impeachment vote, President Yoon indicated a de facto retreat to a secondary role by stating, "I will entrust the party with future political stability measures, including my term."

However, through a statement the previous day, he rejected calls for early resignation and said, "Whether I am impeached or investigated, I will stand firm and face it." This is interpreted as his intention to return to work and continue exercising his authority under the premise that the declaration of martial law on the 3rd was not problematic.

President Yoon also approved the agenda items passed at the Cabinet meeting the previous day. The Ministry of Government Legislation announced that President Yoon approved 21 bills and 21 presidential decrees in the afternoon of the previous day, and accordingly, the 21 bills will be submitted to the National Assembly within the day.