Court still conducting review of President Yoon's impeachment amid speculation over ruling date

While the record delay in announcing an impeachment ruling for President Yoon Suk Yeol is leading to various speculations, the Constitutional Court is reportedly handling the case with a great deal of caution and prudence.

Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports.

The Constitutional Court is working "cautiously" and "thoroughly" on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case, as speculation continues over when the justices will deliver their ruling.

Appearing before the National Assembly on Monday, the Constitutional Court's Secretary-General Kim Jung-won said the eight-member bench is deliberating with "caution" in their frequent "in-depth" reviews and discussions.

Kim added even he wasn't informed of how many times the justices convened or what stage they were in in their deliberation, due to the high level of confidentiality.

The justices have been deliberating for more than a month after Yoon's final trial hearing in February, the longest period yet for a presidential case.

Once each justice concludes their review, and expresses their opinion, the bench is expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance.

While some believe the ruling could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch.

But given the record deliberation period, other observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment.

The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President.

If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office.

At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench —the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire.

In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday.

But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling.

The opposition Democratic Party has been calling for the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President, as an early election would favour their party leader Lee Jae-myung.

The DP has also been pushing to amend the Constitutional Court Act to extend the retiring justices' terms.

The Court's Secretary General said while the suggestion is "under internal review," "there is no official position yet.”

When asked if President Yoon's ruling would be made by the 18th, the Court's secretary general said the aim is still to issue a verdict as swiftly as possible, but declined to specify a date.

Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.