Court wraps up PM Han Duck-soo's impeachment trial hearing in 90 mins

The Constitutional Court will deliberate on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment case, after deciding to conclude the trial in 90 minutes at the first hearing on Wednesday.

The hearing was held 54 days after the opposition-led National Assembly voted to remove him from office, as Han, who was also Acting President at the time, held back on approving new Constitutional Court justices until a bipartisan agreement was reached.

Addressing the 8-member bench, Han said the decision was consistent with the country's constitutional tradition, in which judicial nominations are always decided through bipartisan agreement.

Han also denied allegations that he had enabled martial law, and said he vetoed contentious bills railroaded through by the opposition-led parliament as they included unconstitutional clauses.

To this, the National Assembly's impeachment panel co-chair Jung Chung-rae insisted Han had disrupted the nation by not appointing three justices as the opposition wanted.

Separately, the Court also held a hearing for a dispute case filed by the ruling People Power Party, as it clashed with the opposition over the required number of votes to impeach Han.