South Korean court reinstates PM Han Duck-soo as acting president

South Korean Prime Minister Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached in late December while serving as acting president, has been reinstated by the Constitutional Court. | BLOOMBERG

by JOYCE LEE AND JIHOON LEE
March 24, 2025

SEOUL – South Korea's Constitutional Court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to the post of acting president on Monday, striking down his impeachment as he pledged to focus on steering Asia's fourth-biggest economy through a U.S. "trade war."

The ruling, which comes amid months of political turmoil in the country, returns 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 Han, who thanked the court for its "wise decision" and the Cabinet for their hard work while he was suspended.