South Korean court reinstates impeached PM Han Duck-soo as acting president

24/3/2025 11:49

South Korea's Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's powers on Monday, the latest twist in the country's recent turbulent politics after his impeachment as acting president nearly three months ago.



Han took over as acting leader from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was himself impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law in December. Following the ruling, Han returns to his acting president position immediately.



"I am grateful for the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court," Han said after the ruling, thanking members of the cabinet for their hard work while he was suspended. "We will work together to prepare and implement responses to global changes, and to ensure that South Korea continues to develop well in the era of great geopolitical transformation," Han said in the televised comments.



Yoon's martial law declaration plunged Asia's fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. military ally into its greatest political crisis in decades, and sparked a leadership vacuum amid spiraling impeachments, resignations, and criminal indictments for a range of top officials.



Han had initially lasted less than two weeks in the post and was impeached and suspended on December 27 after clashing with the opposition-led parliament by refusing to appoint three more justices to the Constitutional Court.