The South Korean Constitutional Court restored the prime minister’s powers, Han Duck-Soo, on Monday (24) after his impeachment as interim president in December.
Han took over as the country’s interim leader after the president was accused for imposing martial law in December. After the decision, Han immediately returns to his position as interim president.
“I am grateful for the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court,” Han said, thanking members of the office for 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 Duck-soo
Yoon has placed Asia’s fourth largest economy in its largest political crisis in decades, causing an emptiness of leadership in the midst of impeachments, renunciations and criminal indictments to high employees.
Han initially lasted less than two weeks in office and was accused and, after conflicting with the parliament led by opposition to refusing to appoint three more judges to the Constitutional Court.
The court judges ruled on Monday by seven votes to one, to nullify impeachment.
Five of the eight judges said the impeachment motion was valid, but there was not enough reasons to accuse Han, as he did not violate the Constitution or the law, according to a court statement.
Two judges decided that the impeachment motion against Han, interim president at the time, was invalid from the beginning, as two thirds of the legislators in Parliament did not approve it.
A judge voted for Han’s impeachment.
Han, 75, served in leadership positions for more than three decades under five presidents, conservative and liberal.
In a country with party divisions, Han was seen as a rare example of an officer whose varied career transcended the lines of the parties.
Still, the parliament led by the opposition accused him of not doing enough to prevent Yoon’s decision from declaring martial law, an accusation he denied.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-Mok took the position of interim president while the cases of Yoon and Han were considered by the Constitutional Court.
Parliament approved Han’s impeachment for its supposed role in martial law, its refusal to nominate more judges to the Constitutional Court and to support special counseling bills aimed at Yoon and First Lady, Kim Keon Hee.
Han appeared to the only hearing of the case on February 19, where he denied any role in the episode of martial law and asked the court to reject impeachment.
The martial law lasted only six hours, and was overthrown by the vows of legislators.
The decision of the Constitutional Court on the impeachment of Yoon is expected within a few 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 will be held within 60 days.
