Short-Term President Han Escapes Impeachment in South Korea, Stoking Political Turmoil
- (A hint of the ongoing drama)
South Korea's Constitutional Court turns down impeachment of Interim President Han - South Korea's High Court declines to oust President Han from office
In a shocking twist, five constitutional justices have votes against the request for impeachment against interim President Han, with one favoring it. The court's decision was a relief for Han, who called it a "wise decision."
Despite welcoming the decision, Han acknowledged the nation's lingering divisions, stating, "Our country's priority is moving forward, with no room for divisions."
South Korea has been grappling with an crippling political crisis for months. The crisis kicked off when President Yoon declared martial law in early December over a budget dispute. In response, the parliament in Seoul voted to oust Yoon, and criminal investigations were launched against him. Amid the chaos, Han, as the prime minister at the time, took over as the interim president.
Just two weeks after Yoon's removal, the parliament in Seoul also voted to impeach Han as acting president. The opposition accused Han of involvement in the declaration of martial law.
Lee Jae Myung, the opposition leader, expressed his respect for the court's decision on Han but urged the court to make a speedy ruling on Yoon's impeachment. Frustrated by the slow pace of the court's deliberations, Lee declared, "The nation has been sleepless due to Yoon Suk Yeol's military coup."
According to political scientist Yoo Jung Hoon, the court's ruling on Han does not provide insight into the legality of Yoon's actions. He explained, "The judges evaluated Han's involvement in the events, not the legality of martial law."
The Constitutional Court's decision on Yoon's impeachment has been hotly anticipated for weeks. The initial expectation was for the decision to be made in mid-March, but the court has yet to announce a date. The suspenseled to massive protests for and against Yoon.
The ongoing negotiations of the Constitutional Court fuel apprehensions among opponents of the ousted president about his potential return. If the court rules in Yoon's favor, he will be reinstated as president. If it rules against him, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days. The current negotiations drama is the longest in the court's history.
After his arrest in January, Yoon spent several weeks in detention before a court lifted the arrest warrant against him in early March.
Han Duck-soo, South Korea, Impeachment, Seoul, Crisis, Prosecution
- Despite the Constitutional Court's decision not providing clarity on the legality of Yoon's actions in declaring martial law, political scholar Yoo Jung Hoon believes the court's evaluation of Han's involvement in the events is significant.
- Parliament in Seoul voted to impeach President Han, acting as interim president, just two weeks after the ousting of previous President Yoon, a move driven by accusations of Han's involvement in the declaration of martial law.
- The ongoing political turmoil in South Korea, precipitated by President Yoon's controversial declaration of martial law, has persisted for months, with the Constitutional Court's decision on Yoon's impeachment highly anticipated, yet yet to be announced, causing widespread apprehension and protests among the citizenry.
