South Korea's Constitutional Court Thumbs Down on Han's Impeachment: A Power Struggle Amidst Political Chaos
South Korea's Supreme Court denies call for President Han's impeachment
Hungry for answers, South Korea watches as the Constitutional Court weighs in on the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, leaving the nation in limbo. In a surprising turn of events, the court has made a decision regarding his interim successor, Han Duck Soo—the application for his impeachment has been firmly denied. Prime Minister Han briefly held the reins as acting president after Yoon's removal in December, but was swiftly ousted by the South Korean parliament. Now, Han has resumed his role as president, following the court's ruling.
A majority of five constitutional justices voted against Han's impeachment, with one in favor. The decision is final and holds no grounds for appeal. Han gratefully acknowledged the court's judgment, expressing gratitude for their "prudent decision." He emphasized that the country needs unity and there's no room for division, with the nation's progress being the top priority.
South Korea has been bogged down in a protracted political crisis. President Yoon declared a state of emergency in early December, sparking outrage and culminating in his impeachment by the Seoul parliament and criminal charges brought against him by the prosecution. Han was prime minister at the time and took over as acting president.
Two weeks following Yoon's impeachment, the parliament in Seoul also voted to remove Han as acting president. The opposition argued that Han was complicit in Yoon's declaration of a state of emergency. Opposition leader Lee Jae Myung applauded the decision but pressed for the court to render a swift judgment on Yoon's impeachment.
"The entire nation has been restless due to Yoon Suk Yeol's questionable military seizure," he proclaimed. It's puzzling why the court continues to drag its heels on the matter. Political scientist Yoo Jung Hoon shared this sentiment with the AFP news agency, stating that Han's case provided no insight into Yoon's predicament. "The judges did not address the constitutionality of the state of emergency," he explained, "but instead evaluated Han's role in the events."
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Insights:
The rejection of Han's impeachment indicates that the opposition's use of impeachment was perceived as an overreach of parliamentary power. The ruling did not delve into the legality of Yoon's declaration of a state of emergency, leaving uncertainty surrounding his ongoing impeachment case.
- The Constitutional Court's denial of Han Duck Soo's impeachment is final and without room for appeal, given that a majority of five justices voted against it.
- With the dismissal of Han's impeachment, vocational training seems to be a pressing matter for him, emphasizing the nation's progress and the need for unity.
- Despite the ruling on Han's impeachment, the questionable military seizure by former President Yoon Suk Yeol remains a contentious issue in South Korea, with ongoing uncertainty surrounding his own impeachment case.
