Prime Minister Han, who became acting president after the impeachment of the Korean president, was also impeached at the end of December
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South Korea's Constitutional Court on Monday overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Deok-Su and reinstated him as acting president. But the court has not yet decided on the impeachment of President Eun Suk Yeol.
Yun was impeached by parliament after he unexpectedly imposed martial law on December 3. Han then became acting president. But he too was impeached in late December after a political tussle with an opposition MP.
The decision made by the court on Monday does not seem to indicate anything about the future decision on the matter of Yun's impeachment. Since Han is not an ally of former President Yun, who imposed martial law, it is expected that there will be a different opinion on his case. But Monday's court ruling could further embolden Yun's staunch supporters and increase their political attacks on the opposition. The
has caused extreme division in South Korean politics after the unprecedented suspension of the country's top two officials. Apart from that, there was concern about the country's diplomatic and economic activities. Since then, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Choi Sang-mok has served as Acting President. On Monday, 7 out of 8 judges of the Constitutional Court dismissed the impeachment against Han. They stated that the charges leveled against Han were not against the law, there was no need to remove him from office and the quorum needed to pass the impeachment motion was not reached. But a judge supported Han's impeachment, according to Korean media.
Han would have needed the support of at least six judges to be dismissed from office. As the court reinstates him, Han has called for national unity. There is no other left or right. The progress of our nation is important," he said.
In the context of the US President Donald Trump administration's aggressive trade policy, he says that he should focus on the rapidly changing global business environment.
The court has not yet ruled on Yun's impeachment. If the court upholds Yun's impeachment, South Korea must hold elections for a new president. But if the court rules in Yun's favor, he will be reinstated as president. Yun was impeached about two weeks before Han. It is estimated that the Constitutional Court will decide on his impeachment in mid-March.
Yun is also being tried separately on charges of rebellion. If convicted of the charge, he faces the death penalty or life imprisonment. Yoon was released from prison on March 8 after a Seoul-based district court allowed him to face the criminal case without being detained. Demonstrations in support or opposition to Yun's arrest have divided the capital, Seoul, and other major South Korean cities. Earlier in various polls, the majority of South Koreans were against Yun's decision to impose martial law. But recently, it has been seen that the number of people who support or sympathize with Yun is more.
Hundreds of army and police officers were sent to parliament after Yun declared martial law. Yun said his goal was to maintain peace and order. But senior military and police officers stationed there said Yun had ordered the evacuation of lawmakers to prevent a vote against martial law. But the necessary MPs managed to enter the parliament hall and unanimously overturned the UN's decision. Han, appointed by Yun, tried to reassure diplomatic partners and stabilize markets while serving as acting president. But he was also impeached after refusing to appoint a judge to a vacant position in the 9-member constitutional court.
Since the support of at least six judges is needed to rule in favor of the impeachment motion against Yoon, the appointment to a vacant position on the court was sensitive. But Han's successor, Choi Sang-mok, appointed two new judges but left one seat vacant. Both Han and Choi noted that adding judges to the court would require bipartisan agreement. But critics said both were on the side of Yun's People Power Party, increasing the chances of Yun returning to power. As a result, the main liberal opposition Democratic Party and other smaller opposition parties have submitted an impeachment motion against Choi.
