South Korea’s Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president on Monday, overturning his impeachment as he vowed to stabilize the country amid an escalating U.S. trade war.
The ruling immediately restores Han’s authority following months of political upheaval. He had taken over from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached after briefly imposing martial law in December.
“I believe the people are making it very clear, in one voice, that the extreme confrontation in politics must stop,” Han said, thanking the court and his cabinet. He pledged to focus on state stability and protecting South Korea’s economy.
As one of the world’s top exporters, South Korea has been bracing for the impact of threatened U.S. tariffs. The nation has already faced levies on steel and aluminum and is seeking exemption from additional reciprocal tariffs set to take effect next month.
Yoon’s declaration of martial law plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades, triggering resignations, criminal charges against top officials, and a leadership vacuum. Han initially served for less than two weeks before being impeached on Dec. 27 for refusing to appoint three additional Constitutional Court justices, a move opposed by the opposition-led parliament.
On Monday, the court ruled 7-1 to overturn the impeachment. While five justices acknowledged the validity of the motion, they found insufficient grounds to remove Han, determining he had not violated the constitution or the law. Two justices argued the impeachment was invalid from the outset due to a lack of parliamentary approval, while one justice voted for Han’s removal.
Han, 75, has held leadership roles under five presidents across party lines. However, the opposition accused him of failing to prevent Yoon’s martial law declaration, a claim he denied.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is expected to rule soon on Yoon’s impeachment, though delays have heightened tensions. If Yoon is removed, South Korea will hold a new presidential election within 60 days.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who leads in opinion polls for a potential election, warned that continued delays could escalate political divisions into physical conflict.
South Korea has witnessed massive, largely peaceful protests both in support of and against Yoon. His unexpected martial law declaration on Dec. 3, which lasted only six hours, sent shockwaves through the nation and raised concerns among allies, including the U.S.
Source: Swifteradio.com
