South Korean Constitutional Court Restores Impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to Office

On March 23, 2025, the Constitutional Court reinstated Han Duck-soo, who had been impeached amid political turmoil, a decision that heightens uncertainty regarding the future of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo of South Korea has made a dramatic return to office as the acting president after the Constitutional Court ruled on Monday to overturn his impeachment by the National Assembly. This ruling comes in the wake of significant political upheaval, beginning when President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14, 2024, for attempting to impose martial law amid rising tensions in the country.

Han Duck-soo briefly took the reins as acting president until the Assembly impeached him on December 27, accusing him of complicity in Yoon's controversial actions and neglecting constitutional responsibilities by refusing to appoint three Constitutional Court justices nominated by Parliament. Han has vehemently denied these allegations throughout the proceedings.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling carries immediate implications and is final; it effectively restores Han Duck-soo to his position without an avenue for appeal. However, the court has yet to announce a timeline for its decision regarding whether President Yoon will be ousted permanently. This ruling, which has been highly anticipated by South Koreans, carries profound implications for the nation, potentially leading to new presidential elections if Yoon is removed from office.

In the interim, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed the role of acting president following Han’s suspension. As tensions escalate within the South Korean political landscape, citizens are left anxious and divided as to what lies ahead for their leadership and the nation’s direction, signaling an increasingly volatile environment in one of the United States' key allies in Asia.