Constitutional Court: "New Justice Yoon Involved in Case... Hope for Swift Completion of 9-Member Panel"

The Constitutional Court will involve newly appointed Constitutional Justices Johan Chang and Jeong Gye-seon in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol. Additionally, it urged the prompt completion of the Constitutional Court’s '9-member system' through the appointment of one vacant justice.

Johanchang (left) and Jeong Gyesun, newly appointed Constitutional Court Justices, are attending the inauguration ceremony of the Constitutional Court Justices held on the morning of the 2nd at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Cheon Jae-hyun, the Constitutional Court spokesperson, stated at a regular briefing on the 2nd regarding the first justice meeting under the 8-member system, "Although no information has been received, the new justices are scheduled to be immediately involved in the case and conduct hearings." Under the previous 6-member system, unanimous approval from all justices was required to uphold the impeachment, making it difficult to reach a conclusion. However, under the 8-member system, approval from 6 out of 8 justices is sufficient to uphold the impeachment.

Cheon also commented on President Yoon Seok-yeol’s request for a constitutional review and injunction against the issuance of an arrest warrant, saying, "Once the case assignment process is completed, we plan to begin reviewing the case, including examining the legal requirements." He added, "Typically, legal requirements involve a comprehensive judgment considering all aspects of legality, such as the petitioner’s standing. This review will be conducted first."

Regarding the currently vacant justice position, he said, "Our position remains unchanged in hoping for the prompt completion of the Constitutional Court to ensure fair and swift hearings," and added, "Since the vacancy has not yet been resolved, we plan to accelerate the hearing process considering this situation."

Furthermore, Cheon stated, "One of the constitutional review cases related to the non-exercise of the appointment right for constitutional justices has been assigned to the presiding justice of the case concerning the unconstitutionality of the martial law proclamation, filed by the same petitioner." He noted, "It was referred to the full bench on December 31 last year, and considering the nature of the matter, it will be heard promptly."

With the second preparatory hearing for President Yoon’s impeachment trial scheduled for tomorrow, the Constitutional Court announced that no additional written submissions have been made by the respondent side since December 31.