"President Yoon Sukyeol Is Dismissed"... Son Seokhee Asks "Did You Practice?" Moon Hyungbae Responds

Moon Hyungbae: "All Eight Justices Gathered Before the Verdict
Practiced Reading Clearly and Loudly Alone"
No Comment on Yoon's Detention
"Unanimity Was Needed for Acceptance of the Decision"

Moon Hyungbae, Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, is reading the ruling on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Sukyeol on the morning of April 4 at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Moon Hyungbae, former acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, who called for the removal of former President Yoon Sukyeol in the impeachment trial, is drawing attention as he shares behind-the-scenes stories from before and after the trial.

Appearing on MBC's "Son Seokhee's Questions 3" on the 27th, Moon Hyungbae began the interview by responding to Son Seokhee's question, "How do you feel when you look back at that moment (the dismissal)?" by saying, "I never want to experience it again."

Son Seokhee then asked, "I think anyone would feel that way. Out of personal curiosity, did you practice the final sentence, 'is hereby dismissed'?" Moon replied, "I think I practiced about four times. When the presiding judge read the order during the impeachment ruling of former President Park Geunhye, it looked like he was reading from a script," adding, "But I thought the order should be delivered while facing forward. That's why I practiced that way," explaining the situation at the time.

Moon further explained, "Judges usually read the verdict from the written judgment, so it's not easy to look up," and added, "Since the trial was being broadcast live and cameras were expected, I decided to look straight at the camera and say 'I pronounce the verdict.' I practiced that four times."

Moon Hyungbae: "All eight justices gathered before the ruling... I practiced reading it clearly and loudly by myself"

Moon Hyungbae also shared that despite practicing several times, he did not do well at the crucial moment and received help from his fellow justices.

Moon Hyungbae (left), former acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, is appearing on MBC's Son Seokhee's Questions on the 28th, interviewing with Son Seokhee. Photo by MBC YouTube capture

Moon said, "At the end, I bowed my head. I shouldn't have, but it was out of habit. In fact, all eight justices gathered that day," adding, "The discussion that day was about how I would deliver the verdict. I usually speak quickly and my voice is soft. They asked me to read it clearly and loudly in front of them, but I refused."

He continued, "I went to my office and practiced. Clearly and loudly. I looked at the camera and read the order, asking myself, 'Is this good enough? Is this sufficient?' That was the mindset with which I finished."

No comment on Yoon's detention... "Unanimity was necessary for the decision to be accepted"

Later, Son Seokhee asked, "A former president accused of leading a rebellion was, as people say, 'freely walking around' for four months. He was even seen voting in the presidential election that was held because of his impeachment. Was it difficult to assess when his detention was canceled and he was released?" Moon avoided a direct answer.

When Moon said, "I do have a position, but I won't reveal it here," Son Seokhee pressed further: "In any case, former President Yoon eventually returned to prison after many twists and turns. Do you think his re-detention was inevitable?" Moon again declined to comment, saying, "Since the trial is ongoing, I believe it is proper not to speak from a third-party perspective."

Asked, "Did you expect the 8-0 unanimous decision on April 1?" he replied, "Yes. Personally, I thought unanimity was necessary and possible. The reason for unanimity was to increase the acceptance of the decision, and I thought the case was that clear."

He added, "I thought the vote could not be postponed any longer. I believed that only by setting the ruling date for April 1 could the verdict be delivered on April 4. If it went past April 4, my term would end on April 18, leaving only one week, and the impeachment trial could have been derailed."