If Court doesn't announce Pres. Yoon's verdict date by Wednesday, ruling unlikely to be made this week

President Yoon Suk Yeol's political fate remains in limbo as the Constitutional Court remains silent on a date for its decision on his impeachment.

Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports.

Three weeks and counting, the Constitutional Court has yet to announce when it will rule on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, meaning there may be no verdict this week.

It took at most two weeks for former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun, but there has been no word from the Court as of Wednesday 22 days since Yoon's final trial hearing was held.

The chance that the verdict will be delivered this Friday is looking slimmer, given that the Court notified former leaders two to three days in advance of their respective ruling dates.

The eight-member bench was reportedly convening even on Tuesday to deliberate on Yoon's impeachment, despite holding a trial hearing for Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.

The longer-than-expected process has given rise to diverse speculations over what's holding up the justices.

Some experts believe they have already decided unanimously to impeach President Yoon, and are fine-tuning their positions to deliver an indisputable judgment amid fears the result may trigger extreme reactions from the public.

The Seoul Western District Court's approval to extend a warrant to detain Yoon,.. prompted violence from his supporters.

Some believe the bench may be divided ideologically, and are struggling to align their views, given how an earlier impeachment case of Korea Communications Commission chair Lee Jin-sook was dismissed as the justices opinions were split evenly in line with their political orientations.

In any case, the justices are facing growing calls to make a swift decision as Yoon's prolonged suspension from office, hinders effective governance of the nation.

The bench is also under significant political pressure.

Those supporting Yoon's impeachment wish to quickly trigger a snap presidential election, which polls show would largely favor opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.

Meanwhile, conservatives including Yoon's supporters are calling for the case to be dismissed, or for the Court to deliver a ruling after Lee Jae-myung's own verdict, on one of his five criminal cases next Tuesday.

If at least six justices agree to uphold the presidential impeachment, Yoon will be removed from office immediately, triggering an early election that must be held within 60 days.

If at least three are against impeachment, the President will resume his duties.

Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.