The Constitutional Court of South Korea restored Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo to the post of acting president on Monday, reducing his dismissal when he undertook to focus on the direction of the fourth largest economy in Asia thanks to an American trade war.
The decision, which comes in the middle of the months of political disorders in the country, returns Han to power immediately. He took office as an acting chief by President Yoon Suk Yeol, who himself was dismissed on his brief taxation of martial law in December.
“I believe that people indicate very clearly, with one voice, that the extreme confrontation in politics must stop,” said Han, who thanked the court for his “wise decision” and the cabinet for their hard work during his suspension.
“As an acting president, I will do my best to maintain a stable state administration and consecrate any wisdom and abilities to protect national interests in the trade war,” said Han in television comments.
South Korea, one of the best exporters in the world, has prepared the potential impact of a range of rates threatened under US President Donald Trump.
South Korea has already seen American prices on steel and aluminum and has requested an exemption from American reciprocal prices which should arrive next month. Earlier this month, Trump distinguished South Korea for applying high prices on American exports.
The Declaration of the Martial Act of Yoon has plunged the key American military ally in its greatest political crisis for decades, and has sparked a management vacuum in the midst of dismissal, resignations and criminal accusation acts for a range of senior officials.
Han had first lasted less than two weeks of post and had been dismissed and suspended on December 27 after facing the Parliament led by the opposition by refusing to appoint three other judges to the Constitutional Court.
The court judges ruled on Monday seven to one Monday to eliminate the dismissal.
Five of the eight judges declared that the request for dismissal was valid, but there was not enough reasons to dismiss Han because it did not violate the Constitution or the law, according to a statement.
Two judges judged that the request for dismissal against Han, who was acting president at the time, was not valid from the start because two thirds of the legislators in Parliament did not adopt it.
A judge voted to dismiss Han.
Han, 75, held management positions for more than three decades under five presidents, conservatives and liberals.
In a country strongly divided by a partisan rhetoric, Han had been considered as a rare example of an official whose varied career transcends party lines.
However, the Parliament led by the opposition accused him of not doing enough to thwart Yoon’s decision of declaring martial law, an accusation he denied.
The Parliament of South Korea voted on Saturday to dismiss President Yoon Suk Yeol for his decree of short -term martial law, a historic reprimand that was applauded by the jubilant crowds that described the result as another provocative moment in the resilient democratic journey of the nation.
Lee Jae-Myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, said Han’s decision should be accepted but urged the Constitutional Court to quickly make a decision on President Yoon.
The court should reign in a few days, although its deliberations have dragged longer than expected. Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial to conduct an insurrection by declaring martial law.
If Yoon is removed, a new presidential election will take place within 60 days.
“The continuous delay of the Court in the decision feeds concerns and conflicts … We can now anticipate the situation going beyond a psychological civil war to become a real physical civil war,” said Lee, who conducts opinion polls to win a election if Yoon is removed.
South Korea has experienced enormous rallies, mostly peaceful, both in support of Yoon and has called for its withdrawal in recent months.
The Minister of Finance, Choi Sang-Mok, had assumed the position of acting president while the affairs of Yoon and Han were examined by the Constitutional Court.
The unexpected taxation of martial law on December 3, 2024 and the political upheavals that followed sent shock waves through South Korea, and have raised concerns among the allies such as the United States under the President of China and North Korea.
The martial law at the end lasted only about six hours after the legislators challenged a security cordon around the Parliament and voted to reject the declaration.
