\n
Mr. Han immediately returned to his duties, replacing Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, the official next in line in the government hierarchy, who had been doubling as acting president. But the country still has no elected leader as it faces North Korea\u2019s nuclear threats and the global tariffs that President Trump has said he will impose in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
When the Assembly impeached Mr. Han, it accused him of collaborating in what it called Mr. Yoon\u2019s illegal declaration of martial law. It also said Mr. Han had violated his constitutional duties by refusing to appoint three Constitutional Court justices nominated by the Assembly. Mr. Han denied the accusations.<\/p>\n
In the court\u2019s ruling on Monday, only one of its eight justices supported Mr. Han\u2019s removal from office. The votes of at least six justices are needed to remove impeached officials; otherwise, they are reinstated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
The court said it had found no evidence that Mr. Han played a role in Mr. Yoon\u2019s imposition of martial law. Mr. Han has insisted that he was not aware of Mr. Yoon\u2019s plan until the night the president declared it. When Mr. Han first heard of it, he said, he voiced his objection to Mr. Yoon, saying it would damage the country\u2019s economy and its international reputation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Mr. Han was the first acting president in South Korean history to be impeached.<\/p>\n
Four justices said that Mr. Han\u2019s refusal to appoint the three Constitutional Court justices nominated by the Assembly was a violation of the Constitution and related laws, but that the breach was not serious enough to merit his removal. Only one justice said it was serious enough.<\/p>\n
When Mr. Yoon was impeached, the top court had only six justices, with three vacancies to be filled by the opposition-controlled Assembly. The opposition denounced Mr. Han\u2019s refusal to sign off on the Assembly\u2019s nominees as an attempt to improve Mr. Yoon\u2019s chances of being restored to office \u2014 since his removal would require six votes, regardless of how many justices were on the court.<\/p>\n
Mr. Choi, Mr. Han\u2019s successor as acting president, later appointed two of the three justices, leaving only one vacancy on the court, which normally has nine members.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thank the Constitutional Court for its wise decision,\u201d Mr. Han said upon resuming his official duties after 88 days.<\/p>\n
He called on South Korea to overcome its political polarization so it could better deal with the \u201cintensifying hegemonic competition between the United States and China and a new geopolitical upheaval\u201d in the wake of Mr. Trump\u2019s inauguration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n