South Korea s Constitutional Court strikes down impeachment of PM Han Duck soo

SEOUL – South Korea’s Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to the post of acting president on March 24, striking down his impeachment as he pledged to focus on steering Asia’s fourth-biggest economy through a US “trade war”.

The ruling, which comes amid months of political turmoil in the country, returns Mr Han to power immediately. He took over as acting leader from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was himself impeached over his brief imposition of martial law in December.

“I believe the people are making it very clear, in one voice, that the extreme confrontation in politics must stop,” said Mr Han, who thanked the court for its “wise decision” and the cabinet for their hard work while he was suspended.

“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,” he said in televised comments.

South Korea, one of the world’s top exporters, has been bracing for the potential impact of a range of threatened tariffs under US President Donald Trump.

South Korea has already seen US tariffs on steel and aluminum and has been seeking an exemption from reciprocal US tariffs due to come in next month. Earlier this month, Mr Trump singled out South Korea for applying high tariffs on US exports.

The martial law declaration plunged the key US military ally into its greatest political crisis in decades, and sparked a leadership vacuum amid spiraling impeachments, resignations, and criminal indictments for a range of top officials.

Prime Minister Han lasted less than two weeks in the post and was impeached and suspended on Dec 27 after clashing with the opposition-led Parliament by refusing to appoint three more justices to the Constitutional Court.

The justices on the court