South Korea’s Constitutional Court has reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president, overturning his impeachment in a major twist to the country’s ongoing political crisis.
The court ruled 7–1 to dismiss the impeachment, stating there was insufficient evidence that Han violated the constitution or national laws. Although a majority of justices found the impeachment motion valid, they determined that Han’s actions—especially regarding the short-lived martial law imposed by President Yoon Suk Yeol—did not meet the threshold for removal from office.
Han was originally appointed acting president after Yoon’s impeachment last year for unilaterally declaring martial law. But just days into his interim leadership, Han himself was suspended after defying parliament on key judicial appointments and investigations targeting Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
Two justices said the impeachment lacked the necessary parliamentary support from the beginning, while only one justice voted to uphold it.
Han, 75, has served under five different administrations and is known for his bipartisan appeal, but faced intense political pressure for allegedly failing to block Yoon’s martial law move—a charge he denies.
The December 3 martial law declaration shocked the nation but was swiftly overturned by lawmakers who bypassed military roadblocks to vote it down within six hours. During Han’s suspension, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok had served as acting president.