Acting President Han Duck-soo, who also serves as Prime Minister, appointed Han Eun-hyuk as the Constitutional Court justice candidate on the 8th. Along with this, he nominated Lee Wan-kyu, the Minister of Legislation, and Ham Sang-hoon, Director General of the Seoul High Court, as successors to Moon Hyung-bae, the acting chief justice of the Constitutional Court, who will retire on the 18th of this month, and Lee Mi-sun, a Constitutional Court justice. Acting President Han also appointed Ma Yong-joo as a Supreme Court Justice candidate, who had completed the nomination by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and received the National Assembly's consent.
Acting President Han said in a statement titled "Words to the People" announced before the Cabinet meeting on the same day, "I have done my best to make wise decisions solely for the country without any selfish motives, and I would like to say that I take full responsibility for my decisions."
Acting President Han noted, "The impeachment motion against the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy is currently pending in the National Assembly's legislation committee and can be voted on at any time in the National Assembly plenary session, and the impeachment trial of the Korean National Police Agency Commissioner is still underway."
"I judged that if the Constitutional Court vacancy situation recurs and the Constitutional Court's decisions are delayed, it will inevitably cause serious disruptions in managing the presidential election, preparing for necessary supplementary budgets, and responding to usual issues, and there is a significant risk of increasing division among the people."
Acting President Han remarked, "Minister of Legislation Lee Wan-kyu and Director General Ham Sang-hoon have each built long careers in the prosecution and the judiciary, and they are highly regarded for their fair and just judgments both within and outside the legal community," adding, "These two individuals are indeed the right candidates to carefully consider the rights of each citizen while also delivering judgments for the entire nation."
He also stated, "I hope that through the joining of Justice Ma and the two individuals, the Constitutional Court will continue its original mission of being a bastion of constitutional order, just as it has before, without interruption."