Prime Minister Han Duck-soo enters the courtroom for the hearing of him impeachment trial at Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul on Feb 19, 2025. - Photo: Yonhap
SEOUL: South Korea faces a critical week, with landmark rulings expected to determine the fates of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and possibly President Yoon Suk Yeol, which could mark a major political turning point.
Suspended Prime Minister Han’s impeachment verdict is set for Monday (March 24) at 10am, the appeal verdict on the main opposition party leader Lee on Wednesday (March 26), and the verdict date on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to be announced early in the week.
While the Constitutional Court has not yet announced the date for Yoon’s verdict, given that it recently cleared major cases and the precedent of presidential impeachment rulings typically falling on Fridays, there is a possibility that the court will deliver Yoon’s ruling this Friday.
The court usually announces the verdict date two to three days in advance.
Legal circles viewed that the court’s impeachment verdict on Han could work as a “preview” of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment ruling.
While both Han and Yoon were impeached over the alleged unconstitutionality of the procedures during the martial law declaration on Dec 3, the Assembly passed the impeachment motion on Han for other reasons as well: his recommendation that the president veto a special prosecutor investigation into first lady Kim Keon Hee and his refusal to appoint Constitutional Court justices.
Han has been suspended from his position since Dec 27, 2024, following the Assembly’s passage of his impeachment motion.
But what sets Han’s case apart from Yoon’s case lies in the factors surrounding the emergency Cabinet meeting held on Dec 3 night, before the declaration.
While Han merely convened the meeting, Yoon is accused of pushing through the martial law despite the Cabinet's opposition, concluding the meeting in five minutes.
Some experts viewed that unless Han is found to have actively abetted the martial law plan, the ruling may not delve into its constitutionality, potentially limiting its relevance to Yoon’s case.
During Han’s hearing on his impeachment on Feb 19, Han stated that he had “no prior knowledge of President Yoon’s plans” and did his “best to persuade him to reconsider.”
He also actively denied his involvement in “any military mobilisation.”
While both ruling and opposition parties expect Han’s impeachment to be dismissed, the ruling People Power Party sees a dismissal as paving the way for Yoon’s acquittal.
In contrast, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea believes the Constitutional Court might strike a political balance by upholding Yoon’s impeachment.
While it is possible that Yoon’s final verdict will be out on Friday, this week is poised to become a defining moment in South Korean democracy for another reason.
Besides the ruling on Han, the opposition Democratic Party Chair Lee’s appeal verdict on the election law case is set for Wednesday.
This unprecedented convergence could reshape the nation’s political landscape, with early presidential elections becoming a real possibility if Yoon is ousted from office.
By law, an early election must be held within 60 days following a president's removal.
Lee is his party's most likely candidate in an early presidential election, but his legal troubles could disqualify him from public office.
If convicted in Wednesday’s ruling, Lee could appeal to the Supreme Court.
However, running with such a legal risk ahead of a potential presidential election would place a significant political burden on the main opposition, with the ruling party likely to capitalise on the situation by labeling him a criminal.
If Yoon is reinstated and Lee is convicted, observers predict that Lee’s political career and presidential ambitions will be severely jeopardised.
On the other hand, if Yoon is reinstated and Lee receives a lighter sentence that allows him to retain his parliamentary seat, the confrontation between the two is likely to intensify even further. - The Korea Herald/ANN
