South Korea’s Constitutional Court has yet to issue a ruling on Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment, weeks after concluding hearings on Feb. 19. While verdicts typically follow within two weeks of final arguments, the court took the unusual step of accepting a Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) request to obtain prosecution records on cabinet members present during a past martial law declaration. Prosecutors have refused to submit the documents.
The DPK claims Han was involved in discussions over martial law. However, court filings in the case of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun state that President Yoon Suk-yeol summoned Han on the day of the declaration without informing him of the reason. If Han had no prior knowledge, allegations of “insurrection conspiracy” appear baseless. The real motivation behind his impeachment seems to be his refusal to appoint constitutional court justices favored by the DPK.
The DPK’s last-minute request for additional documents suggests an attempt to delay a likely rejection of Han’s impeachment until after a ruling on President Yoon’s impeachment. The court’s decision to allow this raises concerns about procedural fairness.
South Korea faces pressing economic and geopolitical challenges. U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at demanding greater financial contributions from Seoul and linking military support to trade policies. Washington is also reconsidering subsidies promised under the Biden administration to South Korean chipmakers Samsung and SK Hynix. The U.S. has warned it will impose reciprocal tariffs on trade surplus nations starting in April, leaving little time for negotiations. In this critical period, Han—an experienced trade expert and former ambassador to the U.S.—has been sidelined for over two months, a significant setback for the country.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s domestic economy is weakening. In January, production, consumption, and investment all declined simultaneously. In just the first two months of the year, 103 construction firms filed for bankruptcy. Han, a former deputy prime minister for economic affairs, remains unable to act amid these mounting crises. Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok must focus entirely on his role as deputy prime minister for economic affairs. The Constitutional Court should act swiftly to reinstate Han and prevent further political and economic instability.
