South Korean Court Reinstates Prime Minister, Overturns Impeachment
SEOUL, South Korea – The Constitutional Court of South Korea issued a ruling on Monday that overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating his authority. This decision marks the most recent development in the nation’s ongoing political unrest, following his December suspension from the acting presidency.
Political Context of Impeachment
Han had assumed the role of acting leader, succeeding President Yoon Suk Yeol, who also faced impeachment proceedings stemming from his brief declaration of martial law the previous year.
Reasons for Impeachment
Prime Minister Han served in office for less than two weeks before his impeachment and suspension on December 27. This action followed disagreements with the opposition-controlled parliament concerning his refusal to appoint additional justices to the Constitutional Court.
Parliament’s impeachment of Han stemmed from accusations regarding his alleged involvement in the martial law declaration. Additional reasons included his resistance to appointing further justices to the Constitutional Court and supporting special counsel bills aimed at President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
Court’s Decision
The Constitutional Court justices voted seven to one in favor of reversing the impeachment.
Han participated in the sole hearing for his case on February 19, denying any participation in the martial law events and urging the court to reject the impeachment motion.
Han’s Background and Career
Han, aged 75, brings extensive experience to the position, having held leadership roles for over 30 years under five presidents from both conservative and liberal administrations.
In a nation marked by deep partisan divisions, Han is regarded as an uncommon figure whose diverse career has crossed political boundaries.
However, the opposition-led parliament accused him of insufficient efforts to prevent President Yoon’s martial law declaration, an accusation Han refuted.
Martial Law and Aftermath
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok served as acting president while the Constitutional Court deliberated on the cases of both Yoon and Han.
President Yoon’s unexpected imposition of martial law on December 3 and the subsequent political turmoil caused significant disruption to Asia’s fourth-largest economy and raised concerns among allies, including the United States, which viewed Yoon as a vital partner in initiatives to counter China and North Korea.
Ultimately, the martial law lasted approximately six hours, ending after lawmakers voted to overturn the declaration. Legislators had circumvented attempts by police and military personnel to blockade parliament, even scaling fences to bypass security perimeters.