The Constitutional Court of South Korea has rejected the dismissal of Prime Minister Han Duck-SOo, restoring him as an acting president of the country.
Han took office as an acting chief last December when President Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended from his duties and charged by Parliament after trying to declare martial law.
However, Han lasted only two weeks in power before the legislators also vote to dismiss it. Since then, South Korea has been led by Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-Mok.
South Korea has been disrupted by political chaos since Yoon’s sloppy attempt to impose martial law.
Shortly after having assumed the role of acting president, Han blocked the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court – which the opposition hoped to improve the chances that Yoon was charged.
As a result, they voted to dismiss Han.
But on Monday, the judges ruled from seven to one to eliminate the dismissal.
“I thank the Constitutional Court for its wise decision,” said Han after the announcement of the decision. “I will work to order the order.”
South Korea remains on counterparts for another decision to come by the same court – on the dismissal of President Yoon.
Yoon was charged by the Parliament and suspended from his functions on December 14 – but this dismissal will only be made permanent if it is adopted by the Constitutional Court. If the court cancels the dismissal, Yoon will immediately return to his functions.
Yoon’s hearing date has not yet been set for the verdict, but in recent weeks, Seoul has seen swollen protests from Yoon supporters and opponents, with hundreds of thousands of people going to the streets of the national capital last weekend.
