Up to the Court

Justice appointment will legitimize procedure for impeachment ruling. Acting President Choi Sang-mok appointed two justices of the Constitutional Court.

They are Jung Gyeseon, nominated by the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and Cho Han-chang, nominated by the ruling People Power Party.

Choi deferred the appointment of Ma Eun-hyeok, another Democratic Party nominee, until the rival parties agree on the third nominee. The ruling party argued that one of three nominees should be a person whom both parties agree on, as custom dictates. The opposition party argued that it is qualified to nominate two justices, citing its large majority, and unilaterally pushed through their nominations, ignoring ruling party lawmakers' concerns about Ma's left-leaning background. It seems that by appointing justices evenhandedly for both main parties, Choi was going to prevent further impeachment by the opposition party while maintaining the government position that consensus between the parties is needed to appoint justices nominated by the legislature.