Yoon's impeachment verdict likely to be delayed until later next week... Why?

Both Yoon and National Assembly urge swift conclusion

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial verdict is expected to be delivered next week at the earliest. Considering various circumstances, it is highly likely to be delayed until the middle or latter part of next week.

According to legal circles on the 14th, the Constitutional Court had not yet announced the date for President Yoon's impeachment verdict as of last night. The Court is reportedly planning to hold a deliberation session this afternoon, Friday, two weeks after the closing arguments, to review the key issues.

Typically, the Court notifies the parties of the verdict date 2-3 days in advance and also informs the media. If the verdict date is announced today, the ruling could come as early as the 17th. Otherwise, it is expected to be delivered between the 19th and 21st. Since Justice Minister Park Sung-jae's impeachment trial is scheduled for the afternoon of the 18th, it is widely believed that a verdict on that day would be difficult.

Even if the verdict is delivered next Monday, the 17th, it would be 93 days since the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against President Yoon on December 14 last year. This would set a new record for the longest period from impeachment to verdict among presidential impeachment trials in history. Previously, the late former President Roh Moo-hyun received his verdict 63 days after impeachment, while former President Park Geun-hye's verdict came 91 days after her impeachment.

It is reported that the justices have been holding deliberations almost daily since the closing arguments, except for the first few days, reviewing each issue raised by both President Yoon and the National Assembly in the impeachment trial. They have reportedly not yet reached a final conclusion. There are concerns that if opinions remain divided, a verdict might not be delivered even next week.

The Court is also reportedly deliberating on the order of verdicts between Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and President Yoon's cases. The Constitutional Court concluded arguments in Prime Minister Han's impeachment trial on the 19th of last month and has been deliberating since then.

Both the National Assembly and President Yoon's side are urging the Constitutional Court to deliver a swift verdict. Four-term lawmakers from the Democratic Party stated at a National Assembly press conference on the 11th that "a prompt decision on Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment is necessary," with Impeachment Committee member Chung Cheong-rae, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, also adding his name to the statement.

President Yoon's legal team emphasized yesterday, after the dismissal of impeachment motions against Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hae and Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Chief Lee Chang-soo, that "since the destruction of the constitutional order through abuse of legislative power has been confirmed, the impeachment of the President should be dismissed immediately."

Shin Hyun-bo, Hankyung.com reporter greaterfool@hankyung.com