[Anchor]
The historically longest-delayed presidential impeachment trial is set for a verdict tomorrow (April 4th). Various statements have surfaced, such as difficulties in setting a date due to a deadlock among constitutional judges with a 5-3 split. However, it is understood that the judges’ opinions did not split 5-3, and they are now focused on drafting the decision document.
This is reporter Kim Tae-hyung.
[Reporter]
The constitutional judges have already concluded their deliberations for the impeachment trial verdict of President Yoon Suk-yeol. According to JTBC’s investigation, the opinions among the judges were not divided 5-3 regarding acceptance and dismissal.
For the impeachment to be upheld, more than six affirming votes are needed. If opinions split 5-3, the conclusion depends on one unappointed judge. The Constitutional Court is believed to have concluded internally that it cannot proceed with a verdict under these circumstances.
Announcing the verdict schedule for President Yoon implies that the outcome will not change with the appointment of candidate Ma Eun-hyuk. The judges who have reached a conclusion are now concentrating on drafting the decision document.
As the verdict approaches, they are convening deliberations twice a day, in the morning and afternoon, to refine the decision document. Previously, the judges also collaborated on drafting statements during the trial process.
[Mun Hyeong-bae/Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (February 13th): Since all eight members have raised no objections to this script, what I am saying is not something I am adding to it.]
Given that a single phrase in the decision document can spark significant repercussions, meticulous review is required to prevent controversies. Deliberations to revise and finalize the document are expected to continue until the day of the verdict.
Judges are also drafting the verdict document, which they will read aloud during the impeachment ruling. The summary version of the decision document, the verdict, consists of the rationale and the order.
The video of Acting Chief Justice Mun Hyeong-bae reading the verdict will be broadcast live nationwide. In the case of the 2017 impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye, the decision document was 89 pages long, and the reading of the verdict took 21 minutes and 39 seconds.
[Video editing by Kim Ji-hoon / Video design by Heo Sung-woon]