South Korea’s Constitutional Court Upholds Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Reinstating Him as Acting President
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has rejected the impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, effectively reinstating him as acting president. This decision marks the latest development in a period of ongoing political instability.
Background: Yoon Suk Yeol’s Impeachment and Martial Law
Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, which stemmed from Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law late last year.
Han Duck-soo’s Impeachment and Suspension
Han’s tenure as acting president was short-lived, lasting less than two weeks. He faced impeachment and temporary removal from his position on December 27th. This action occurred after disagreements with the opposition-controlled parliament over his refusal to appoint additional judges to the Constitutional Court.
Constitutional Court Overturns Impeachment
In a ruling delivered on Monday, the Constitutional Court judges voted seven to one to invalidate the impeachment.
Details of the Court’s Decision
According to a court statement, five of the eight justices acknowledged the validity of the impeachment motion against Han. However, they concluded that there were insufficient grounds for impeachment, as Han’s actions did not violate the constitution or South Korean law regarding the martial law announcement or potential insurrection.
Conversely, two justices determined that the impeachment motion against Han, acting president at the time, was invalid from its inception. They argued that the motion did not receive the required two-thirds majority vote in parliament. One justice dissented and voted in favor of impeachment.
Han Duck-soo: A Veteran Public Servant
Han Duck-soo, 75, boasts a long career in public service, having held leadership roles for over three decades under five different presidents, spanning both conservative and liberal administrations.
In South Korea’s politically polarized environment, Han has been viewed as an uncommon figure who has successfully navigated and worked across party lines throughout his career.
Accusations and Han’s Defense
The opposition-led parliament had accused Han of not adequately preventing President Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, an accusation that Han has consistently denied.
Finance Minister’s Brief Stint as Acting President
While the Constitutional Court deliberated on the cases of both President Yoon and Prime Minister Han, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok briefly served as acting president.
Grounds for Han’s Impeachment
Parliament initiated impeachment proceedings against Han based on his alleged role in the martial law situation. Additional factors included his rejection to appoint more justices to the Constitutional Court and his lack of support for special prosecutor bills targeting President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
Han’s Hearing and Plea
Han attended the sole hearing in his case on February 19th, where he refuted any involvement in the martial law events and urged the court to dismiss the impeachment motion.
Impact of Martial Law Declaration
President Yoon’s unexpected implementation of martial law on December 3rd and the subsequent political upheaval caused considerable concern in South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy. It also prompted unease among allies, including the United States, who considered Yoon an important partner in regional security efforts concerning China and North Korea.
Quick Reversal of Martial Law
Ultimately, the martial law lasted only approximately six hours. Parliamentarians voted to overturn the declaration, circumventing security barriers by scaling fences and defying attempts by police and military personnel to cordon off the parliamentary building.