Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

South Korean court reinstates impeached PM as acting president

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Mar 2025 08:16
4 Min Read

Han Duck-soo was impeached and suspended on December 27 after clashing with the opposition-led parliament over his refusal to appoint three additional justices to the Constitutional Court.

Listen
  • x
  • South Korean acting President Han Duck-soo bows during a briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP)South Korean acting President Han Duck-soo bows during a briefing at the Government Complex in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP)

South Korea's Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as acting president on Monday, overturning his impeachment. 

The ruling, issued amid months of political unrest, immediately restored Han to power. He had taken over as acting leader following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed after briefly imposing martial law in December.

"I believe the people are making it very clear, in one voice, that the extreme confrontation in politics must stop," Han said, thanking the court for its "wise decision" and acknowledging the cabinet’s efforts during his suspension.

"As acting president, I will do my best to maintain stable state administration, and devote all wisdom and capabilities to safeguard national interests in the trade war," Han said in a televised statement.

South Korea, a major global exporter, has been bracing for the potential fallout from a series of tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. US tariffs have already hit the country on steel and aluminum and is seeking an exemption from additional duties set to take effect next month. 

Yoon’s declaration of martial law triggered South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades, creating a leadership vacuum as top officials faced impeachment, resignations, and criminal investigations.

Han, initially serving for less than two weeks, was impeached and suspended on December 27 after clashing with the opposition-led parliament over his refusal to appoint three additional justices to the Constitutional Court.

On Monday, the court ruled 7-1 in favor of nullifying Han’s impeachment. Five of the eight justices acknowledged the validity of the impeachment motion but found no constitutional or legal violations sufficient to remove Han from office, according to the court’s statement.

Related News

S. Korean candidate claims party ousting him before snap election

Former South Korean PM launches presidential bid in snap election

Two justices further argued that the impeachment was invalid from the outset, as it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in parliament.

Fears of civil war loom over South Korea 

Han, 75, has held leadership roles under five presidents from both conservative and liberal backgrounds, making him a rare figure in South Korea’s deeply polarized political landscape.

Despite this, opposition lawmakers accused him of failing to prevent Yoon’s martial law declaration—an allegation he denied.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, said Han’s reinstatement must be accepted but urged the court to expedite its ruling on Yoon’s impeachment.

The Constitutional Court is expected to issue a decision within days, though the process has taken longer than anticipated. Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial for allegedly leading an insurrection by imposing martial law.

A new presidential election must be held within 60 days if Yoon is removed from office.

"The court's continued delay in ruling is fueling concern and conflict ... We can now anticipate the situation going beyond a psychological civil war to become an actual physical civil war," said Lee, who leads in polls as a potential successor if Yoon is ousted.

Earlier in March, Yoon was released from detention under technical and legal grounds but remains under investigation over his declaration of martial law.

A court canceled Yoon's arrest warrant on procedural grounds, a verdict that was called "unjust" by prosecutors who were investigating the impeached president after they waived the right to appeal the court's decision.

Read more: South Korean president indicted as 'ringleader of an insurrection'

  • Han Duck-soo
  • Yoon Suk-Yeol
  • South Korea

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS