South Korea: Prime Minister Han Duck-soo reinstated as president after his impeachment is overturned

On Monday, South Korea's Constitutional Court overturned the impeachment trial of Premier Han Duck-soo, reinstating the country's second-highest ranking official as the nation's acting president.

Han was appointed to that post following the suspension of the previous president. The court has yet to rule on the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol in late December.

"Han's impeachment was rejected in a 5-1 vote by the court's eight justices," AFP news agency picked up on the day.

The high court's determination is the latest development in South Korea's political crisis since suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3.

"Failure to certify the appointment of judges is illegal, but insufficient to justify impeachment."

Han was impeached in December by Parliament, weeks after taking office following Yoon's suspension, for his refusal to appoint three new judges to the Constitutional Court to complete its nine-member bench before beginning to analyze the president's removal.

Local YTN television said Monday's court decision "explains that not certifying the appointment of judges is illegal, but insufficient to justify a dismissal."

Han's successor as incumbent president, Choi Sang-mok, appointed two judges to the Constitutional Court.

Han resumed the presidential post immediately after the court's ruling and thanked the judges for their "wise decision."

The Constitutional Court has yet to rule on Yoon's dismissal. A vote of six of the eight members of the court is required to ratify the dismissal, otherwise he will be reinstated.