By Jack Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea's opposition party said it would introduce a bill to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday and hold a vote on Friday, a move that could deepen the country's constitutional crisis caused by temporary martial law. .
The opposition Democratic Party threatened to accuse Han of not quickly appointing three judges to fill the vacancies on the Constitutional Court. Parliament voted on the three nominees on Thursday, but they have not yet been formally appointed by Han.
The court is trying to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his December 3 declaration of martial law.
“It is clear that the Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo do not have the confidence or the will to protect the Constitution,” Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae said in a statement.
If Han is rejected, the finance minister will take over as president. The Democratic Party has a majority in parliament, but there is disagreement between the parties and some constitutional scholars over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds vote is needed to impeach an acting president.
Han said earlier Thursday that he would not appoint judges until the political parties reached an agreement on the appointments, because doing so without political agreement would harm the constitution.
Two of those proposed to the Constitutional Court to be voted on Thursday were nominated by the Democratic Party and the other by the ruling Han of the People Power Party. The governing body has opposed this break, saying it has not yet agreed to it.
Han has been under pressure to make the appointment, but political parties disagree on whether he has the authority to do so as acting president.
The court will hold its first hearing on Friday in the case to decide whether to fire or reinstate Yoon.
Under the constitution, six justices must agree to remove an impeached president, meaning the current justices must vote unanimously to remove Yoon. The court said it could deliberate without a full bench.
Yoon, who was expelled from parliament on Dec 14 in a vote joined by some members of his right-wing party, has not submitted official documents as requested by the court since Thursday, court spokesman Lee Jean told a news conference.
On Wednesday, he did not respond to the latest subpoena for questioning in a separate criminal investigation.
Yoon's repeated defiance has drawn criticism and calls from opponents for his arrest.