The South Korean Constitutional Court has reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president, following a contentious impeachment process. The court ruled that Han’s impeachment was illegitimate, stating that his actions, while partly unconstitutional, did not represent a betrayal of public trust. This decision comes amid ongoing political upheaval in South Korea, which saw President Yoon Suk Yeol impeached and later released from custody.
Prime Minister Han was initially suspended from office after the National Assembly passed a motion of impeachment against him, citing his veto of a special counsel bill and refusal to appoint court justices selected by the Assembly. The Constitutional Court’s ruling, however, dismissed the case largely due to procedural issues and the lack of evidence showing public trust betrayal (Constitutional Court ruling).
Han had assumed the presidency following President Yoon’s impeachment, as required by Article 71 of the South Korean Constitution (Constitution). After the court’s decision, Han thanked the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, for his leadership during Han’s suspension. He called for unity in a politically divided South Korea, emphasizing the need to move beyond partisan conflicts.
The Democratic Party of Korea, Han’s main opposition, has criticized the court’s decision, expressing their dissatisfaction with the ruling. Meanwhile, President Yoon’s trial on insurrection charges is still pending (Democratic Party response). The political landscape remains tense as the nation awaits a resolution to ongoing trials and investigations.
More on this developing story can be found on the JURIST news site.