Acting Han Deok-soo said, "Pending the appointment of a constitutional judge until the ruling and opposition parties agree."

Acting President Han Deok-soo talks to the public..."Appointment with agreement between the ruling and opposition parties"
The scope of the acting president's authority 'passive' interpretation
"If the authority is exercised, the 'custom' of the ruling and opposition parties has never been broken."

[Anchor]
Acting President Han Deok-soo said in a statement to the public that he will hold off on the appointment of a constitutional judge until the ruling and opposition parties submit an agreement.

He stressed that the ruling and opposition parties' agreement is the top priority for a fair presidential impeachment trial with mixed legal interpretations of the acting role.

I'm reporter Lee Jong-gu.

[Reporter]
Acting President Han Deok-soo answered the opposition's demand for the appointment of three constitutional judges immediately after the National Assembly's approval for appointment.

In short, we will appoint it only when there is an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

[Han Deok-soo / Acting President: I will hold off on the appointment of a constitutional judge until the ruling and opposition parties agree to submit the proposal. If the ruling and opposition parties agree and submit the proposal, we will appoint a constitutional judge immediately.]

There are three major problems that Han Deok-soo, the acting president, pointed out as a problem with the appointment without agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.

First, we passively interpreted the scope of the authority of the acting authority that is not in the Constitution.

[Han Deok-soo / Acting President: The consistent spirit of the Constitution and laws is to refrain from exercising the president's own authority, including the appointment of constitutional institutions]

He then explained that it is a custom that the ruling and opposition parties have never been broken if they have to exercise their authority inevitably.

He stressed that procedural legitimacy must be guaranteed in a situation where division and conflict are severe to prevent social chaos and expect a fair impeachment trial.

[Han Deok-soo / Acting President: The agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, the representative of the people, is the last bank to secure democratic legitimacy and bring about national unity.]

At the same time, even during the impeachment trial of President Park Geun Hye, Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn did not appoint a constitutional judge before the Constitutional Court's decision to not affect the outcome of the trial.

Acting President Han Deok-soo said, "If we do not find an answer to these concerns properly and demand a conclusion, it is difficult to agree," adding, "We will judge all issues in accordance with the Constitution and laws."

I'm YTN Lee Jong-gu.

Reporter for filming
: Ko Min-cheol
Video editing: Kim Jiyeon