“Han’s impeachment was dismissed in a 5-1 vote by the court’s eight justices. Two justices voted to reject the impeachment motion entirely,” Yonhap reported.
The court ruling is the latest development in South Korea’s complex and sprawling political crisis, which was touched off by suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule.
The opposition-controlled parliament impeached Yoon’s replacement Han just weeks after he assumed the role.
Lawmakers cited Han’s refusal to appoint more judges to the Constitutional Court – which will also decide on Yoon’s impeachment – plus his purported role in the martial law debacle.
The court only had six judges at the time, meaning that had even one judge refused to back impeachment, Yoon would have been reinstated. The opposition had called for three more to be appointed, taking the court up to a full bench.
According to local broadcaster YTN, the court decision on Monday “explained that not certifying nominees is illegal, but not enough to warrant dismissal,” in its decision to throw out Han’s impeachment.
YTN also said that the court “found no evidence of [Han’s] role” at meetings related to planning the martial law declaration.
Han’s successor as acting president, Choi Sang-mok, appointed two additional judges to the Constitutional Court.
Han, who immediately resumed the acting presidency after the ruling, thanked the Constitutional Court for its “wise decision”.
“I believe that all citizens are clearly speaking out against the highly polarised political sphere. I think there is no place for division now. Our country’s priority is to move forward,” he added. (AFP)
