South Korea's Constitutional Court reinstated South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's powers today, the latest twist in the nation's recent turbulent politics after his impeachment as acting president nearly three months ago.
Han took over as acting leader from South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was himself impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law in December last year.
Following the ruling, Han returns to his acting president position immediately.
Photo: Reuters
"I am grateful for the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court," Han said, thanking members of the Cabinet 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 great geopolitical transformation," Han said in the televised comments.
Yoon's martial law declaration plunged Asia's fourth-largest economy into its greatest political crisis in decades, and sparked a leadership vacuum amid spiraling impeachments, resignations and criminal indictments for a range of top officials.
Han had initially lasted less than two weeks in the post and was impeached and suspended on Dec. 27 after clashing with the opposition-led parliament by refusing to appoint three more justices to the Constitutional Court.
The justices on the court ruled today seven to one to strike down the impeachment.
Five of the eight justices said the impeachment motion was valid, but there were not enough grounds to impeach Han as he did not violate the constitution or the law, according to a court statement.
Two justices ruled that the impeachment motion against Han, who was acting president at the time, was invalid from the start as two-thirds of lawmakers in parliament did not pass it.
One justice voted to impeach Han.
Han, 75, had served in leadership positions for more than three decades under five presidents, both conservative and liberal.
In a country sharply divided by partisan rhetoric, Han had been seen as a rare example of an official whose varied career transcended party lines.
Still, the opposition-led parliament accused him of not doing enough to thwart Yoon's decision to declare martial law, an accusation he denied.
South Korean Minister of Finance Choi Sang-mok assumed the position of acting president while the cases of Yoon and Han were considered by the Constitutional Court.
Parliament impeached Han over his alleged role in the martial law, as well as his refusal to appoint more justices to the Constitutional Court and back special counsel bills targeting Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
Han attended the only hearing in the case on Feb. 19, where he denied any role in the martial law episode and called for the court to dismiss the impeachment.
The Constitutional Court's ruling on Yoon's impeachment is expected within days.
Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial on charges of leading an insurrection by declaring martial law.
If Yoon is removed, a new presidential election is to be held within 60 days.
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