South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Monday, restoring him as the acting leader. However, the court has yet to decide on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case, leaving the country in political uncertainty.
No Direct Impact on Yoon’s Impeachment Case
Many political analysts believe this ruling does not necessarily indicate how the court will decide on Yoon’s impeachment. Unlike Yoon, Han did not play a major role in the martial law declaration. Nevertheless, this decision could strengthen Yoon’s supporters and push them to intensify their political attacks on the opposition.
Han took over as acting president after the opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached Yoon. Lawmakers removed Yoon from office over his controversial December 3 martial law declaration, which triggered a major political crisis. However, Han faced impeachment later that month due to clashes with opposition legislators.
These back-to-back impeachments of the country’s top two leaders deepened political divisions and raised concerns about South Korea’s diplomatic and economic stability. In their absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok stepped in as the acting leader.
Constitutional Court’s Ruling on Han
On Monday, seven out of eight justices on the Constitutional Court ruled against Han’s impeachment. They concluded that the allegations against him either did not break any laws, were not severe enough to justify his removal, or that the impeachment motion failed to meet the required quorum in the assembly. Only one justice voted in favor of his removal.
For the court to uphold the impeachment, at least six justices needed to support it. Since that did not happen, Han immediately regained his position.
After his reinstatement, Han addressed the media, stating that he would focus on urgent national matters, especially in response to the rapidly changing global trade environment. In a possible reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies, he emphasized the need for stability. Han also called for national unity, saying, “There’s no left or right. What matters is the advancement of our nation.”
What Lies Ahead for President Yoon?
The Constitutional Court has yet to decide on Yoon’s impeachment. If the court upholds his removal, South Korea must hold a presidential election. However, if the court rules in his favor, Yoon will return to office with full presidential authority.
Yoon’s impeachment took place about two weeks before Han’s. Initially, legal experts expected the court to announce its decision by mid-March, but the ruling remains pending.
Beyond the impeachment proceedings, Yoon also faces serious criminal charges. Authorities arrested him for rebellion in connection with his martial law decree. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence or even the death penalty. However, on March 8, a Seoul district court allowed him to stand trial without being held in detention, leading to his release.
Political Divisions and Public Reactions
Yoon’s impeachment has split South Korea, with rival protests erupting across Seoul and other major cities. Initially, public opinion surveys showed widespread disapproval of Yoon’s martial law order. However, in recent weeks, his support base has grown stronger, fueling further divisions.
At the center of this controversy lies Yoon’s decision to deploy hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after declaring martial law. Yoon insists he sent them to maintain order. However, senior military and police officials claim he ordered them to remove lawmakers and block a vote that could overturn his decree. Despite his efforts, enough legislators managed to enter the assembly hall and unanimously rejected the martial law order.
Han’s Role in the Crisis
As acting president, Han attempted to reassure South Korea’s international allies and stabilize financial markets. However, his refusal to appoint three justices to the nine-member Constitutional Court became a major source of conflict. His inaction led opposition lawmakers to push for his impeachment.
This issue was crucial because removing Yoon from office requires support from at least six justices. Han’s successor, Choi Sang-mok, later appointed two new justices but left one seat vacant.
Both Han and Choi argued that they needed bipartisan approval to fill the vacancies. However, critics accused them of siding with Yoon’s People Power Party. Many believed they deliberately delayed appointments to improve Yoon’s chances of regaining power.
The political tensions escalated further on Friday when the liberal Democratic Party and several smaller opposition groups filed an impeachment motion against Choi.
