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In a significant development that marks the latest twist in South Korea's ongoing political crisis, the Constitutional Court has reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president. The court ruled 7-1 to strike down Han's impeachment, which had suspended him from office for nearly three months.
"I am grateful for the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court," Han stated after the ruling, expressing appreciation to cabinet members for their service during his suspension. "We will work together to prepare and implement responses to global changes, and to ensure that South Korea continues to develop well in the era of great geopolitical transformation," he added in televised remarks.
The political turmoil began on December 3, 2024, when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, plunging Asia's fourth-largest economy into unprecedented chaos. This declaration lasted only six hours before lawmakers defied security cordons around parliament and voted to reject it. The parliament subsequently impeached President Yoon over this action.
Han, who assumed the role of acting president following Yoon's impeachment, faced his own impeachment on December 27 after just two weeks in office. The opposition-led parliament accused him of failing to oppose Yoon's martial law declaration and refusing to appoint additional justices to the Constitutional Court.
In Monday's ruling, five justices determined that while the impeachment motion was procedurally valid, there were insufficient grounds to remove Han as he had not violated the constitution. Two justices argued the impeachment was invalid from the start, as it failed to secure the required two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok had served as acting president during the court's deliberations on both Yoon and Han's cases. The Constitutional Court's decision on Yoon's impeachment is expected within days, with significant implications for South Korea's political landscape.
At 75, Han has served under five presidents across political lines over his three-decade career. Reuters describes him as "a rare example of an official whose varied career transcended party lines" in South Korea's politically divided environment.
The martial law episode sent shockwaves through this key U.S. military ally, raising concerns among international partners about stability in a strategically important region. Former President Biden had considered Yoon a crucial partner in efforts to counter China and North Korea.
If the court upholds Yoon's impeachment, South Korea will hold new presidential elections within 60 days. Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial on charges of leading an insurrection through his martial law declaration.
