On March 24, South Korea’s Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was suspended from his duties by a vote of the National Assembly on December 27. With five of eight justices opting to reject and two justices ruling to dismiss the impeachment, Han has been reinstated as prime minister as well as acting president. Only one justice upheld Han’s impeachment.
Han’s impeachment at the National Assembly came 13 days after the parliament passed the bill calling for impeaching President Yoon Suk-yeol in the wake of his failed attempt to grasp unconditional power through martial law. Han had assumed the acting president role until his own impeachment. Although the parliament passed the bill calling for impeaching Yoon nearly two week ahead of Han’s, the Constitutional Court issued its ruling on Han’s case first – even though it has implied that Yoon’s case would be a top priority to handle.
The Democratic Party had impeached Han due to his refusal to appoint three justices nominated by the National Assembly. In its verdict, the court said Han’s refusal to appoint three justices nominated by the National Assembly was unconstitutional, accepting that part of the DP’s claim. However, the court ruled that this act was not enough for him to be removed from office permanently. The justices found that there is not enough evidence and facts to prove that Han was attempting to neutralize the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial involving Yoon.
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