Rival parties clash over vacancies at Constitutional Court on Yoon's impeachment trial

The ruling and main opposition parties remained at odds Tuesday over whether to fill in three vacancies of the nine-member Constitutional Court that will handle President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial.

Currently, there are six constitutional judges at the nine-member Constitutional Court, and, by the Constitution, consent from at least six justices is required for the impeachment to be upheld.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has called for the three vacancies to be filled, but the ruling People Power Party (PPP) has claimed that Acting President Han Duck-soo has no presidential power to appoint constitutional judges.

At a party meeting earlier in the day, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, acting chair and floor leader of the PPP, argued that the acting president has the right to appoint a justice if the president is removed but not in the case of Yoon, whose "duties are suspended."

"It is impossible for the acting president to appoint a justice of the Constitutional Court until the impeachment motion is upheld," he said.

PPP Rep. Joo Jin-woo also took issue with the DPK's choice of justice nominees, claiming they have previously made "biased rulings" in favor of the opposition.

Meanwhile, DPK leader Park Chan-dae called Kwon's argument "an outrageous claim."

"According to the Constitution, the president appoints three judges nominated by the National Assembly," he said, stressing that the president's appointment is a procedural obligation after the Assembly recommends them.

The DPK aims to finalize the appointment process for the three justices by the end of this month.

The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to deliver the ruling on whether to uphold the impeachment and remove Yoon from office or reinstate him.

If upheld, Yoon will become the second president to be ousted by impeachment after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days. (Yonhap)