In the latest twist in months of political turmoil, South Korea’s Constitutional Court has reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting President.
Following the ruling, Han returns to his acting President position immediately.
Han took over as acting President after the country’s leader, Yoon Suk Yeol, was himself impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law late last year.
Han lasted less than two weeks in the post and was impeached and suspended on December 27, 2024, after clashing with the opposition-led parliament by refusing to appoint three more justices to the constitutional court.
Han had served in leadership positions for more than three decades under five presidents, both conservative and liberal.
In South Korea, a country sharply divided by partisan rhetoric, Han had been seen as a rare example of an official whose varied career transcended party lines.
Still, the opposition-led parliament accused him of not doing enough to thwart Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, an accusation he denied.
Parliament impeached Han over his alleged role in the martial law, as well as his refusal to appoint more justices to the constitutional court and to back special counsel bills targeting Yoon and the first lady, Kim Keon-hee.
Han attended the only hearing in the case on February 19, 2025, where he denied any role in the martial law episode and called for the court to dismiss the impeachment.
Finance Minister, Choi Sang-mok, assumed the position of acting President while the cases of Yoon and Han were considered by the constitutional court.
The court’s justices ruled seven to one on Monday, March 24, 2025, to strike down Han’s impeachment.
According to a court statement, out of the eight justices, five said that the impeachment motion against Han was valid but there were not enough grounds to impeach him as he did not violate the constitution or South Korean law concerning the martial law announcement or potential insurrection.
Two justices ruled that the impeachment motion against Han was invalid from the start as two-thirds of lawmakers in parliament did not pass it.
One justice voted to impeach Han.
Han Grateful To Court
Following the ruling, Han expressed gratitude to the Constitutional court for its “wise decision.”
He also thanked members of the cabinet for their hard work while he was suspended.
“I believe that all citizens are clearly speaking out against the highly polarized political sphere. I think there is no place for division now. Our country’s priority is to move forward.
“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.”
Han Duck-soo
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Yoon’s impeachment is expected within days.
Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial on charges of leading an insurrection by declaring martial law.
Yoon’s martial law declaration plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. military ally into its greatest political crisis in decades, and sparked a leadership vacuum amid spiraling impeachments, resignations, and criminal indictments for a range of top officials.
The unexpected imposition of martial law on December 3 by President Yoon and the ensuing political upheaval raised concern among allies such as the United States under former President Joe Biden, who had seen Yoon as a key partner in efforts to counter China and North Korea.
If Yoon is removed, a new presidential election will be held within 60 days.
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