Wreaths are placed in front of the Constitutional Court on Dec. 19, urging justices to rule in favor of President Yoon Suk Yeol in his impeachment trial. Yonhap

Bipartisan efforts are a rarity in Korean politics and are virtually non-existent, even during times of national crisis like the one the country is currently facing.

The consequences could quickly spiral out of control when partisan politics are compounded by a double standard. This alarming scenario is unfolding as major political parties manipulate existing rules and norms to their advantage, reversing their positions purely to serve partisan interests in response to the Constitutional Court's initiation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial.

The impeachment trial is a pivotal moment in the nation's political landscape, with its outcome holding profound implications for the country's future. Such a critical event should rise above partisan politics.

Regrettably, it has not.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are at an impasse, with neither side willing to compromise over the nominations and appointments of three Constitutional Court justices, positions that have remained vacant for months. The DPK shares part of the blame for the incomplete court, as it initially refused to cooperate in filling the vacancies, believing that leaving the seats empty would benefit the party's interests. The DPK also has a history of exploiting the impeachment process, targeting Cabinet ministers and other key government officials for political gain.

By intentionally leaving the three seats vacant, the DPK prevented the court from deliberating impeachment cases. The Constitutional Court can deliberate impeachment cases only when seven out of nine justices are available to work. The seven-member rule recently ended when the court decided to deliberate the impeachment case of Korea Communications Commission head Lee Jin-sook.

After the motion to impeach President Yoon was approved in the National Assembly on Dec. 14, the DPK suddenly shifted its stance and urged the ruling PPP to begin the parliamentary process to fill the three vacant seats. However, the PPP refused to cooperate, insisting that the current six justices should review the impeachment trial of the president. PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong claimed that acting President Han Duck-soo is not authorized to appoint new justices, pointing to a precedent set in 2017 when the top court reviewed the impeachment case of then-President Park Geun-hye.

DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae disagreed, arguing that Yoon's impeachment trial differs from the 2017 case. He emphasized that the current vacant seats are to be nominated by the National Assembly, and the acting president can make the appointments, as his role in this specific case is largely ceremonial. Park pointed out that in 2017, the Constitutional Court deliberated on Park's impeachment with one seat vacant, as that position was to be nominated by the president. He referred to the Constitutional Court's nomination procedure, which stipulates that three justices are nominated by the president, three by the Supreme Court president, and the remaining three by the National Assembly.

The DPK has vowed to move forward with a confirmation hearing for Ma Yong-joo, one of the three Constitutional Court justice candidates, on December 26, despite opposition from the PPP. The DPK has pledged to seek a vote on his nomination in the National Assembly afterward.

Both the PPP and the DPK face criticism for applying double standards and reversing their previous positions on the appointments of Constitutional Court justices. In 2017, the Saenuri Party — the precursor to the PPP — supported the acting president's appointment of a new justice to fill a vacant seat during the impeachment trial. At the time, the court's president, Park Han-chul, was about to leave office. The ruling Saenuri Party called for the seat to be filled, but the DPK refused to cooperate, arguing that the acting president should maintain the status quo and was not authorized to appoint a new justice. As a result, Park's impeachment trial continued with only eight justices, and the court ultimately ruled against her, leading to her removal from office.

Seven years later, the two major parties are once again shifting their stances and repeating the same double standards in the face of similar political turmoil. Their self-serving tactics, aimed at maximizing partisan interests, undermine the rule of law. By interpreting existing rules to fit their agendas, they only create confusion and set a harmful precedent for the parliamentary process.

Now is the time to end this dysfunctional practice. Now more than ever, coordinated, concerted, and consistent efforts from both major parties are essential to preserve the integrity of the political system.

Protesters rally in front of the Constitutional Court on Dec. 21, demanding accountability from President Yoon Suk Yeol for declaring martial law. Yonhap