South Korea’s Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday appointed Ma Yong-ju to the Supreme Court and Ma Eun-hyeok to the Constitutional Court, filling key judicial posts ahead of looming retirements at the country’s top courts.
Han also named two new nominees—Lee Wan-kyu, Minister of Government Legislation, and Ham Sang-hun, a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court—to succeed Constitutional Court justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son, whose terms end on April 18.
In a public statement, Han said the appointments followed “serious deliberation,” noting that Ma Yong-ju’s confirmation had passed all necessary steps, including nomination by the Supreme Court chief justice and parliamentary approval. Ma Eun-hyeok’s appointment was in accordance with Constitutional Court law and legal precedent, he added.
Han said the decision was made to prevent further delays in court rulings amid a growing risk of institutional paralysis. He cited the pending impeachment trial of the deputy prime minister for economic affairs and an unresolved case involving the police chief’s impeachment as factors contributing to the urgency.
“If another vacancy were to arise in the Constitutional Court, it could significantly delay rulings on critical matters such as election oversight, emergency fiscal measures, and trade disputes,” Han said. “There is also a real risk of deepening political division.”
He described the two new nominees as seasoned legal professionals with long careers in the prosecution and judiciary. “Both Lee and Ham are widely respected for their fairness and sound legal judgment,” he said. “I believe they will safeguard individual rights while serving the broader interests of the nation.”
Han said he had consulted with legal experts, politicians from across the spectrum, journalists and senior civil society figures before reaching his decision.“I made this decision with no personal agenda, solely in the interest of the country,” he said. “I take full responsibility for it.”
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) denounced the appointments as “unconstitutional,” vowing to mount a strong response. Under South Korean law, appointments to the Constitutional Court that fall under the president’s authority are typically made by the elected head of state.
Several DPK lawmakers accused Han of overstepping his role as acting president, with some saying he was “out of his mind” and “inviting his own impeachment.”
“It is unconstitutional for an acting president to appoint Constitutional Court justices,” said DPK lawmaker Kim Yong-min during a party strategy meeting. “Han Duck-soo has acted outside the bounds of the Constitution from start to finish.”
Kim argued that presidential powers must be exercised only by someone elected by the people with democratic legitimacy. “An acting president is meant to preserve the status quo—not to fully wield presidential authority,” he said, citing a broad consensus among constitutional scholars.
The DPK also strongly objected to Lee Wan-kyu’s nomination, labeling him a “co-conspirator in a coup.” Kim claimed that Lee had attended a secret meeting shortly after the alleged martial law plan and may have played a central role in shaping the government’s legal response. “There is a high likelihood that Lee was directly involved in the attempted declaration of martial law,” Kim said, adding that Lee had sent his family abroad during that time and remained in the country to join the meeting the day after the plan failed.
DPK spokesperson Yoon Jong-kun said, “It’s as if Han is deliberately provoking his own impeachment. His disregard for constitutional norms is deeply troubling.” Another party spokesperson, Hwang Jung-a, said Han had “completely lost touch with reality.”
Members of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee also voiced sharp criticism. DPK lawmaker Park Beom-kye, a senior member of the committee, called the move an “abuse of authority,” noting that it defied provisions in subcommittee legislation aimed at restricting such appointments. Committee Chair Jung Chung-rae added, “Is the prime minister playing president now? These nominations are illegal and invalid. He needs to come to his senses.”
