- The judges cite insufficient reasons for the accusation of the interim president.
- Grateful for the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court: Han.
- The politician immediately returns to his position after the court’s verdict.
Seoul: The Constitutional Court of South Korea restored on Monday the powers of the prime minister have Duck-Soo that mark the last turn in the recent political turbulent of the country after his political trial as an interim president almost three months ago.
They have assumed the position of interim leader of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was accused of his short statement of martial law in December. After the ruling, they have immediately returned to his position as an interim president.
“I am grateful for the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court,” said Han after the ruling, thanking the cabinet members for their hard work while he was suspended.
“We will work together to prepare and implement responses to global changes, and to ensure that South Korea continues to develop well in the era of a great geopolitical transformation,” HAN said in the televised comments.
The declaration of Yoon’s martial law fell into the fourth largest economy in Asia and a key military ally of the United States in its greatest political crisis in decades and caused a leadership vacuum in the middle of a spiral, resignations and criminal accusations for a variety of senior officials.
Initially, they had lasted less than two weeks in office and was accused and suspended on December 27, 2024 after facing the Parliament led by the opposition by refusing to appoint three more judges for the Constitutional Court.
The court judges, today, ruled seven to one to tear down the accusation.
Five of the eight judges said that the motion of political trial was valid, but there were not enough reasons to accuse Han, since he did not violate the Constitution or the law, according to a statement from the Court.
Two judges ruled that the motion of political trial against Han, who was an interim president at that time, was not valid from the beginning since two thirds of legislators in Parliament did not approve it. While a justice voted to accuse Han.
Han, 75, had served in leadership positions for more than three decades under five presidents, both conservative and liberals.
In a country, abruptly divided by partisan rhetoric, they had been seen as a rare example of an official whose varied career transcended party lines.
Even so, the parliament led by the opposition accused him of not doing enough to frustrate Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, an accusation he denied.
The Minister of Finance, Choi Sang-Mok, assumed the position of interim president, while the cases of Yoon and Han were considered by the Constitutional Court.
Parliament accused Han for his supposed role in martial law, as well as his refusal to appoint more judges for the Constitutional Court and support invoices of special lawyers addressed to Yoon and the first lady Kim Keon Hee.
They have attended the only hearing in the case on February 19, where he denied any role in the episode of martial law and requested that the court dismissed the accusation.
The unexpected imposition of martial law on December 3 by President Yoon and subsequent political agitation sent shock waves through the fourth largest economy in Asia and raised concern among allies such as the United States under former President Joe Biden, who had seen Yoon as a key partner in efforts to counteract China and North Korea.
The martial law at the end only lasted approximately six hours after the legislators challenged a security cord around Parliament and voted to reject the declaration.
The decision of the Constitutional Court on Yoon’s accusation is expected in a few days. Yoon also faces a criminal trial separated by charges of leading an insurrection when declaring martial law.
If Yoon is eliminated, a new presidential election will be held within 60 days.
