Courts in South Korea Clear Han Duck-soo from Impeachment Chaos
Court dismisses impeachment case against ex-Prime Minister Han of South Korea - South Korean court rejects impeachment of former Prime Minister Han
In late November, Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, causing South Korea to plunge into a crisis. This move was spurred by a budget disagreement. The Seoul parliament soon voted for Yoon's impeachment, and the prosecution launched a witch hunt against him. Han Duck-soo was serving as the acting prime minister at the time, stepping into Yoon's shoes temporarily.
Two weeks after Yoon's impeachment, the Seoul parliament also initiated a move to oust Han Duck-soo from the acting presidency. The opposition pulled the strings, accusing Han of refusing to complete the impeachment proceedings against Yoon. Choi Sang Mok, the Finance Minister, took over from Han.
Critics justified Han's ouster because of his unwillingness to appoint more judges to the Constitutional Court. At the time, the court had only six judges, just one short of the number needed to deliver a ruling on Yoon's impeachment. The opposition demanded the appointment of three more judges to fill the court to capacity.
The judges made headlines on Monday, confirming that they'd reinstated Han Duck-soo as the acting president. According to YTN, the judges considered Han's refusal to appoint judges to be illegal but not severe enough to warrant his removal.
YTN also reported that the court found no evidence linking Han to the dubious plans surrounding Yoon's declaration of martial law.
Han seized the opportunity to express gratitude to the Constitutional Court, praising their "wise decision." He emphasized the country's need to move forward, expressing no interest in division or conflict.
The court's decision came just before their highly anticipated verdict on Yoon's impeachment. The decision was initially expected by mid-March, but no date has been announced yet. Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday to either support or denounce Yoon.
The ongoing constitutional court proceedings have stoked fear among Yoon's adversaries about his potential return. At least six of the eight constitutional justices must vote in favor of Yoon's impeachment for him to be booted from office. The current negotiations have reached record lengths in the court's history.
After his arrest in January, Yoon spent several weeks in detention. However, a court lifted the arrest warrant against him in early March.
- Han Duck-soo
- Impeachment
- South Korea
- Constitutional Court
- Seoul
- YTN
- Crisis
- Prosecution
Insights:
The court's decision to reinstate Han Duck-soo as acting president suggests it may have found procedural or legal issues with the impeachment process that led to Han's suspension. The court's decision likely aimed to stabilize the government amidst political turmoil, as South Korea faced significant challenges, including potential U.S. trade tariffs and the ongoing impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Suk Yeol[1][2]. For a precise understanding, it would be beneficial to examine the official judgment or press releases from the Constitutional Court. This decision aligns with efforts to maintain stability and ensure continuity in governance during a period of political instability in South Korea.
- The Constitutional Court of South Korea reinstated Han Duck-soo as the acting president, deciding his refusal to appoint judges was not severe enough to warrant his removal, thus ending his temporary suspension from the presidency.
- YTN reported that the court found no evidence linking Han Duck-soo to the controversial plans surrounding Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, according to the news outlet.
- Han Duck-soo expressed gratitude to the Constitutional Court for their "wise decision" in reinstating him as the acting president, emphasizing the need to move forward and avoid division or conflict in South Korea.
