South Korea’s Constitutional Court defeated the impeachment of the country’s Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and restored his power on Monday, March 24, the latest twist in a months-long political legend that began when martial arts was announced in the second half of last year.
The ruling comes as South Korea waits for the same court to decide whether it will blast the dollar, while Yoon’s brief suspension briefly bans political activity and sends the army to the center of the country’s democracy, putting Asian economic powers into turmoil.
Yoon was subsequently suspended by lawmakers on December 14, and Han then served as acting president.
But Han lasted less than two weeks before the main opposition brought an impeachment motion against him, because he refused to appoint one of three vacant seats in the Constitutional Court.
In the motion, Democrats said he refused to appoint a judge “a judge who violates his obligation to protect the Constitution and seriously undermine the rule of law.”
This also put him in charge of helping draw the martial law declaration and trying to run state affairs with the ruling party before Yoon was suspended and refused to pass a special investigation bill against First Lady Kim Keon-Hee.
Only one of the eight judges voted for the motion. The court said in a statement that there was no evidence that Han tried to neutralize the constitution by not appointing a judge and therefore should not be imploded.
Monday’s ruling restored Han to the acting president’s position, while Yoon’s court case continues.
Han, 75, told reporters after the ruling that he welcomed the court’s “wise” judgment.
The court has not yet ruled whether to impeach each because of its declaration of martial law, which he raised in an unannounced televised speech, accusing the main opposition of sympathy for North Korea and “anti-state activities.”
Yoon cites a Democratic motion for a majority in parliament, demanding the impeachment top prosecutor and rejecting a government budget proposal.
However, within just six hours, the Mets were forced to retreat after forcing soldiers into parliament to unanimously remove the decree.
During his trial in the Constitutional Court last month, Han denied eligibility with Yoon Won. He claimed he tried to “dissuade” the Yuan in a short cabinet meeting before the Yuan declared martial law.
