Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea was reinstated as acting president on Monday following a ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court that overturned his impeachment by the National Assembly. This decision, however, does not appear to bring political stability to South Korea, which has experienced ongoing crises.
Han had previously served as acting president after the Assembly impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, suspending him for an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law. Han himself faced impeachment shortly afterward, contributing to the political turmoil in South Korea, a significant ally of the United States in Asia.
The Constitutional Court has not yet announced a timeline for its decision regarding President Yoon's potential ouster or reinstatement, a ruling that many South Koreans are anxiously awaiting. If Yoon is removed, a new presidential election would be mandated within 60 days. If he is reinstated, he will confront a politically divided nation.
The Constitutional Court's ruling takes immediate effect and is final; it determines whether officials impeached by the Assembly are either removed or reinstated. Upon his reinstatement, Han resumed his duties, taking over from Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who had been acting as president in the interim.
The Assembly accused Han of complicity in Yoon's alleged illegal martial law declaration and of failing to appoint three Constitutional Court justices nominated by the Assembly. Han denied these allegations.
In its ruling, only one of the eight justices voted to support Han's removal. The court found no evidence of Han's involvement in Yoon’s martial law declaration. Han claimed he was unaware of Yoon's intentions until the night of the declaration and had expressed his objections to the president, highlighting potential damage to the nation's economy and global standing.
Han became the first acting president in South Korea to be impeached. Four justices acknowledged that Han's refusal to appoint the justices was a constitutional violation but deemed it insufficient for removal. The opposition criticized Han's actions as a strategy to enhance Yoon's chances of remaining in office.
Choi, Han's successor as acting president, subsequently appointed two of the three justices, leaving one vacancy on the court, which is typically comprised of nine members.
Upon resuming office after 88 days, Han expressed gratitude to the Constitutional Court for its decision and urged the nation to overcome political polarization to address the geopolitical challenges posed by the United States and China.
Han emphasized the importance of unity, stating that a deeply divided society cannot achieve its aspirations. The ruling did not indicate how the court might decide on Yoon's case, continuing the political drama in South Korea.
President Yoon's term has been characterized by significant discord with the National Assembly, which has seen unprecedented numbers of impeachments of government officials and vetoes of Assembly bills. Kwon Young-se, leader of Yoon’s party, welcomed the ruling as a warning against opposition overreach, while opposition leader Lee Jae-myung argued that stability could only be restored through Yoon's removal.