- South Korea’s Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, dismissing his impeachment due to insufficient grounds. The court ruled 7-1 in Han’s favor, citing no serious breach of law.
- Lawmakers accused Han of undermining President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment process and failing to oppose martial law.
- Han’s reinstatement comes amid growing economic uncertainty and national division, with Yoon’s fate still pending.
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South Korea’s Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment and reinstated him as acting president on Monday, March 24. It concluded that the National Assembly failed to present sufficient grounds for his removal.
The court ruled 7-1 in Han’s favor, stating that while he violated some legal norms, his actions did not constitute a breach serious enough to warrant impeachment.
Lawmakers accused Han of undermining the impeachment process against President Yoon Suk Yeol by refusing to appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court. They also alleged he failed to oppose Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024.
Han denied knowing about Yoon’s plan beforehand and said he voiced concerns when informed. The court ultimately found no evidence Han collaborated in the martial law decision.
What led to Han’s impeachment?
The opposition-controlled National Assembly impeached Han in late December 2024, just weeks after voting to impeach Yoon over the martial law order.
Han had served as acting president for less than two weeks before facing impeachment himself. His refusal to appoint court nominees further inflamed tensions during heightened political division.
Lawmakers also criticized Han for not appointing a permanent special counsel to investigate Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee. They also accused him of failing to enact two special counsel bills targeting them.
However, the court ruled that those actions did not rise to legal violations.
What happens next for South Korea?
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok assumed the role of acting president during Han’s suspension and appointed two of the three vacant justices, enabling the Constitutional Court to proceed with deliberations on Yoon’s impeachment.
The court has until mid-June to decide Yoon’s fate.
South Korea will hold a new presidential election within 60 days if removed.
Han, 75, returned to office immediately and pledged to restore stability amid growing economic uncertainty. In a public address, he called for national unity and an end to political polarization, stressing the need to navigate global trade tensions and geopolitical shifts.
How has the public responded?
The political crisis divided South Korea, a key U.S. ally, with large protests supporting and opposing Yoon.
A recent Gallup Korea poll found that 58% of respondents supported Yoon’s impeachment, though that figure has declined recently.
Some analysts warned against interpreting Han’s reinstatement as an indication of Yoon’s outcome, emphasizing the separate nature of the two cases. Legal scholars said the court is likely to weigh the broader implications of its decision on Yoon, given the potential for national division.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders continue to press for Yoon’s removal, while government officials urge restraint.
Han remains the first acting president in South Korea’s history to be impeached and reinstated, marking a new chapter in the nation’s ongoing political turmoil.
