Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea was reinstated as acting president after the country’s Constitutional Court overturned his impeachment by the National Assembly. This ruling did not bring political stability to South Korea, which has been facing numerous crises. Mr. Han briefly served as acting president after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the Assembly on charges related to a failed attempt to impose martial law. Shortly after, Mr. Han was impeached as well, adding to the turmoil in the country.
The Constitutional Court has yet to decide whether to remove or reinstate President Yoon, a decision that many South Koreans have been anxiously awaiting. If President Yoon is removed, a new president will be elected within 60 days. If he is reinstated, the country will face increased division over his leadership. The decision of the Constitutional Court is final and cannot be appealed, which adds to the uncertainty facing South Korea.
Mr. Han returned to his duties immediately after the court’s ruling, replacing Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok as acting president. However, the country still lacks an elected leader amidst threats from North Korea and impending global tariffs from President Trump. When Mr. Han was impeached, he was accused of assisting in President Yoon’s illegal declaration of martial law and not appointing three Constitutional Court justices nominated by the Assembly, charges which he denied.
In the court’s ruling, only one justice supported Mr. Han’s removal from office, while four justices found his refusal to appoint the nominated justices to be a violation of the constitution and laws, but not serious enough for removal. Mr. Han was the first acting president in South Korean history to be impeached, adding to the unprecedented nature of the political situation in the country. The court’s ruling provided no hints as to how they might decide in President Yoon’s case, further adding to the ongoing political drama in South Korea.
President Yoon’s presidency had seen significant conflict between his office and the National Assembly, with numerous vetoes and impeachments taking place. The leader of President Yoon’s party welcomed the court’s ruling as a “stern warning against legislative violence,” while the main opposition leader called for President Yoon’s removal to restore normalcy in the country. The political crisis in South Korea has been ongoing for months, with the uncertainty only growing amidst the various legal and political battles taking place at the highest levels of government.
