Interpretations Diverge Over Constitutional Court Ruling on Han
Ruling Party: "Han's Return Foreshadows Yoon's Comeback"
Opposition: "Grounds for Dismissing Yoon's Impeachment Broken by Han's Verdict"
With Han Duck-soo, Acting President and Prime Minister, returning to his duties, expectations for the dismissal of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment have grown within some ruling party circles. Meanwhile, the opposition has observed that the recent ruling on Acting President Han has made President Yoon's impeachment more certain.
On the 24th, Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said at a press briefing regarding the Constitutional Court's dismissal ruling on Acting President Han and its impact on President Yoon's impeachment trial, "The Constitutional Court ruled on the quorum for the acting president's impeachment resolution, but unfortunately, it did not address the parts of the impeachment charges excluding the crime of rebellion." However, he added, "Since the justices included their individual opinions in the ruling as they saw fit, if such a trial proceeds with more thorough deliberation, I cautiously expect that the outcome of the impeachment trial against the president could be interpreted positively."
On the 24th, when the Constitutional Court dismissed the National Assembly's impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Deok-su, the Prime Minister immediately returned to duty at the Government Seoul Office Building after 87 days and headed to the Prime Minister's Office. 2025.03.24 Photo by Jo Yong-jun
Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, stated on social media (SNS), "It has once again been proven that the Democratic Party's legislative dictatorship and government paralysis through impeachment ultimately caused President Yoon's declaration of martial law," and analyzed, "By dismissing the charges against Acting President Han related to 'unconstitutional and illegal acts and conspiracy, acquiescence, and aiding and abetting of rebellion connected to Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law,' the probability of a similar outcome in President Yoon's impeachment trial has increased."
Na Kyung-won, also a member of the People Power Party, wrote on SNS, "Watching today's Constitutional Court decision, I cautiously predict the president's return to office," and urged, "The Constitutional Court should no longer be preoccupied with political judgments and immediately set a date for the presidential impeachment trial verdict." Former lawmaker Jang Sung-min, who served as the Future Strategy Planning Officer at the Presidential Office, predicted, "This dismissal decision on Prime Minister Han's impeachment is a trailer for President Yoon's impeachment trial."
On the other hand, the opposition has also produced analyses suggesting that President Yoon's removal is approaching in relation to the recent ruling on Acting President Han. Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province and a member of the Democratic Party, said on SNS, "I believe this is a preliminary national stability measure ahead of the acceptance of Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment." Despite the principle of first-in, first-out, the ruling on Acting President Han was made first, which is interpreted as preparing an acting system in anticipation of the president's removal.
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was released from Seoul Detention Center, is seen greeting supporters as he gets out of his car in front of the residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Yonhap News
Park Hong-geun, a Democratic Party lawmaker, analyzed, "The Constitutional Court confirmed the legitimacy of the current eight-justice panel with the 'dismissal' ruling," adding, "Thus, Yoon Suk-yeol's claim of 'dismissal' has become meaningless." Park said, "The Constitutional Court cited the intent to incapacitate constitutional institutions as a condition for removal, that is, the purpose of disturbing the national order," and questioned, "Did Yoon Suk-yeol not attempt to incapacitate the National Assembly by sending the military? There is a mountain of witnesses and evidence." He claimed, "It is as if the ruling on Acting President Han boldly states 'Yoon Suk-yeol's removal.'"
Former lawmaker Park Yong-jin said, "Regarding the People Power Party's main claim of 'withdrawal of the crime of rebellion,' the Constitutional Court thoroughly judged it as 'related to acts of rebellion' and no one used it as a reason for dismissal, clearly showing that it will not be a major issue in the acceptance of Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment," and added, "In other words, the People Power Party and far-right camp's claim that 'withdrawal of the crime of rebellion' is a reason for 'dismissal' is revealed to be nothing more than wishful thinking."
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