Overview

• Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae and Justice Lee Mi-son retired on April 18, 2025, completing their six-year terms and reducing the Constitutional Court bench to seven members.
• The court recently suspended Acting President Han Duck-soo’s nominations of two candidates, citing questions over the legality of an acting president making judicial appointments.
• The vacancies are expected to remain unfilled until after the June 3 presidential election, with the seven-member bench likely delaying major rulings for at least two months.
• In their farewell speeches, Moon and Lee emphasized the importance of respecting Constitutional Court rulings and adhering to the Constitution as the foundation of democracy.
• Moon called for greater diversity and deeper dialogue among justices to ensure balanced and fact-based decision-making on the bench.