In a surprising turn of events, the Constitutional Court of South Korea on Monday overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as the nation’s acting leader. The court, however, did not reach a decision on the separate impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. While some observers believe this ruling may not have a significant impact on Yoon’s case, it is expected to embolden his supporters and intensify their political efforts against the opposition.
Han had taken on the role of acting president following the impeachment of Yoon, a conservative leader, by the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly for declaring martial law on December 3, which led to a major political crisis. However, Han himself was impeached by the assembly later in December after facing political conflicts with opposition lawmakers.
The consecutive impeachments of the country’s top two officials caused a deepening divide within the nation and raised concerns about its diplomatic and economic activities. During this period, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok served as the acting president.
Seven out of the court’s eight justices ruled to overturn or dismiss Han’s impeachment on Monday. They found that the accusations against him did not violate the law, were not serious enough to warrant removal from office, or did not meet the required quorum when passed by the assembly. One justice upheld Han’s impeachment, but at least six justices’ support would have been needed for his removal.
Following his reinstatement, Han stated his intention to prioritize pressing issues, particularly navigating the rapidly changing global trade landscape, possibly in response to the Trump administration’s trade policies. He also called for national unity, emphasizing the importance of advancing the nation above political divisions.
The court has yet to rule on President Yoon’s impeachment. If Yoon’s impeachment is upheld, a new presidential election will be required. On the other hand, if the court rules in Yoon’s favor, he will be reinstated and regain his presidential powers.
Yoon, who was impeached prior to Han, has been arrested and charged with rebellion related to his martial law decree. If convicted, he could face severe penalties. Yoon was released from prison on March 8 to stand trial without detention.
The public support for and against Yoon has resulted in large rival demonstrations in Seoul and other major cities. While initial surveys showed criticism towards Yoon’s actions, supporters have grown in number. The central issue surrounding Yoon’s decisions during the martial law period remains a point of contention, with conflicting accounts from military and police officials about the events that transpired.
Han, a seasoned diplomat appointed by Yoon, had previously…
During his time as acting president, he took steps to reassure diplomatic partners and stabilize markets. One of the main factors that led to the opposition’s push for his impeachment was his decision not to fill three vacancies on the nine-member Constitutional Court bench. Restoring the full membership of the court was a delicate matter, as a ruling upholding Yoon’s impeachment required the support of at least six justices. Han’s successor, Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new justices but left the ninth seat empty. Both Han and Choi mentioned the need for bipartisan consent to appoint justices to the court, though critics suspected they were aligning with Yoon’s People Power Party, which aimed to bolster Yoon’s chances of returning to power. On Friday, the main liberal opposition Democratic Party and other small opposition parties submitted an impeachment motion against Choi. This report includes contributions from Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung.
