Seoul, South Korea-The Constitutional Court of South Korea ruled Monday to reduce the political trial of the prime minister have Duck-Soo and restore their powers, marking the last turn in the country’s political agitation after its dismissal as an interim president more than two months ago.
They have assumed the position of interim leader of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was accused of his short statement of martial law last year.
The prime minister lasted less than two weeks in office and was accused and suspended on December 27 after facing the Parliament led by the opposition by refusing to appoint three more judges for the Constitutional Court.
The judges in court ruled seven to one to tear down the accusation.
Han, 75, had served in leadership positions for more than three decades under five presidents, both conservative and liberals.
In a country, abruptly divided by partisan rhetoric, they had been seen as a rare example of an official whose varied career transcended party lines.
Even so, the parliament led by the opposition accused him of not doing enough to frustrate Yoon’s decision to declare martial law, an accusation he denied.
The Minister of Finance, Choi Sang-Mok, assumed the position of interim president, while the cases of Yoon and Han were considered by the Constitutional Court.
Parliament accused Han for his supposed role in martial law, as well as his refusal to appoint more judges for the Constitutional Court and support invoices of special lawyers addressed to Yoon and the first lady Kim Keon Hee.
They have attended the only hearing in the case on February 19, where he denied any role in the episode of martial law and requested that the court dismissed the accusation.
The unexpected imposition of martial law on December 3 by President Yoon and subsequent political agitation sent shock waves through the fourth largest economy in Asia and attracted concerns of allies such as the United States that had seen Yoon as a key partner in the efforts to counteract China and North Korea.
The martial law at the end lasted only about six hours after the legislators voted to reject the declaration, after challenging the efforts of the police and the military to seal the Parliament, jumping the fences to avoid the security cords.
