Acting President Han Duck-soo deferred appointing three Constitutional Court justices during his televised address on Thursday, citing historical precedent and procedural integrity. Han argued that appointing justices without bipartisan agreement would violate long-standing constitutional norms. The opposition-controlled National Assembly voted in favor of the appointment of three Constitutional Court justice nominees on Thursday afternoon. However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, arguing that Han lacks the authority to make such appointments before the impeachment trial concludes.

Han’s decision leaves the Constitutional Court with six justices, just enough to meet the quorum needed to deliberate cases. However, this