South Korean court overturns impeachment of PM Han, reinstates him as acting president

South Korea's Constitutional Court overturns Han's impeachment, awaits ruling on Yoon's case, amid political turmoil and division.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court on Monday (March 24, 2025) overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating the nation’s No. 2 official as acting leader, while not yet ruling on the separate impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Mr. Han became acting president after Mr. Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly over his Dec. 3 imposition of martial law that triggered a massive political crisis. But Mr. Han was impeached by the assembly as well in late December following political strife with opposition lawmakers.

The unprecedented, successive impeachments that suspended the country’s top two officials intensified a domestic division and deepened worries about the country’s diplomatic and economic activities. The deputy Prime Minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, had since serving as acting president.

The Constitutional Court said Monday (March 24, 2025) it has decided to overturn Mr. Han’s impeachment, but it has yet to rule on Mr. Yoon’s impeachment.

If the court upholds Mr. Yoon’s impeachment, South Korea must hold an election for a new president. If it rules for him, Mr. Yoon will be restored to office and regain his presidential powers.

Mr. Yoon was impeached about two weeks earlier than Mr. Han. Observers earlier predicted the Constitutional Court would rule on Mr. Yoon’s case in mid-March, but it hasn’t done so.

Mr. Yoon has been separately arrested and charged with rebellion in connection with his martial law decree. If convicted of that charge, he would face the death penalty or a life sentence. On March 8, Mr. Yoon was released from prison, after a Seoul district court allowed him to stand his criminal trial without being detained.