South Korea's impeached PM Han Duck-soo reinstated as acting president
What's the story
South Korea's Constitutional Court has overturned the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, reinstating him as acting president.
The court ruled seven to one to strike down the impeachment.
Han became acting president after the country's president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was impeached for his brief declaration of martial law late last year.
The justices clarified Han had not violated any laws concerning the martial law declaration or possible insurrection.
Background
Han's brief tenure and subsequent impeachment
Han lasted less than two weeks as president.
He was impeached by Parliament for his alleged role in the martial law, his failure to appoint more constitutional court justices, and back special counsel proposals against Yoon and the first lady, Kim Keon-hee.
The refusal to appoint three more justices to the constitutional court brought him face-to-face with the opposition-led parliament on December 27 and he was suspended from duty.
Court decision
Court's ruling on Han's impeachment
On Monday, the Constitutional Court declared there weren't sufficient grounds for Han's impeachment.
The justices said he neither violated the constitution nor South Korean law with respect to the martial law announcement or possible insurrection.
However, two justices considered the impeachment motion invalid from the very beginning since it hadn't been cleared by two-thirds of lawmakers in parliament; one voted to impeach him.
Career overview
Han's career and parliamentary accusations
Han has had a distinguished career in leadership roles for over 30 years under five different presidents.
The 75-year-old is seen as an official whose diverse career transcended party lines in a country often divided by partisan rhetoric.
However, the opposition-led parliament accused him of not doing enough to prevent Yoon's decision to declare martial law, an accusation he denied.
Statement
Han's response to the court ruling
After the court's decision, Han thanked for what he called "the wise decision made by the Constitutional Court." He also thanked cabinet members for their hard work amid his suspension.
In televised comments, he said, "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.
When Yoon and Han's cases were being examined, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok acted as president.