Will a new justice join Constitutional Court ahead of President Yoon's impeachment verdict?

The Constitutional Court began deliberating on Thursday, whether Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision not to appoint Court Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk was unconstitutional.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik filed the case against the Acting President, after Choi appointed two of three justice nominees selected by the National Assembly, last December, but withheld Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment, citing the lack of bipartisan agreement.

While the Speaker claimed this violated the National Assembly's constitutional authority, Choi's legal team says the decision was merely a "postponement" not an omission.

They have also challenged Woo's filling of the dispute case, which was done without a formal vote by Assembly members, arguing that the case should be dismissed on procedural grounds.

If the court rules in favor of the National Assembly, Choi may be pressured to appoint Ma, potentially forming a nine-member bench for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment ruling.