South Korea’s Constitutional Court has struck down the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, with President Yoon Suk Yeol’s case also due in the coming days, after the two were suspended from office following Yoon’s declaration of martial law.
Yoon briefly instated martial law in December after an investigation was opened into his wife Kim Keon-hee and four allied officials, and was impeached 11 days later. Han, who took over as acting president, was impeached later that month after vetoing bills to investigate Yoon and Kim, and blocking Constitutional Court appointments.
“It cannot be determined that Prime Minister Han’s violation of the law constitutes a betrayal of the people’s trust indirectly granted through the President, who has the power to appoint him,” the court said in a statement.
Seven of the court's eight justices voted to overturn Han's impeachment, with five saying that he had not violated South Korea's constitution. Han is now set to be reinstated as acting president.
The court has yet to announce a projected date for a ruling on Yoon’s impeachment. The court heard final arguments in Yoon’s case on 25 February.
Yoon has also been indicted on insurrection charges. He was detained for almost two months on these charges before being released on 7 March.
Six of the court’s eight judges would need to agree to uphold Yoon's impeachment. If Yoon is removed, a new election will be held within the next 60 days.
South Korea’s opposition parties began the impeachment process for current President Choi Sang-mok on Friday. Choi has also been the acting Prime Minister since Han’s impeachment.
The impeachment motion against Choi argues that he refused to appoint opposition-recommended candidate Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court, after appointing two other justices.
The motion also cites his alleged involvement in Yoon’s martial law declaration.
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