As the impeachment ruling date of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo approaches on the 24th, the Prime Minister's Office is calmly awaiting the Constitutional Court's ruling while preparing its response.
A Prime Minister's Office official noted on the 23rd, "We are waiting without any preconceived notions about the Constitutional Court's ruling while conducting our regular business," adding, "We will be well-prepared to respond, regardless of whether the outcome is dismissal or acceptance."
If the impeachment is dismissed, Prime Minister Han will immediately return to his duties as the 'acting Prime Minister.' On the other hand, if the impeachment is accepted, Prime Minister Han will be removed from office, and Minister Choi Sang-mok of the Ministry of Economy and Finance will continue to perform the duties of acting president.
While the Prime Minister's Office has been reserved in its comments on the matter, it appears to be preparing to resume work immediately in the event of an impeachment dismissal.
In the event that the impeachment or dismissal decision is announced, Prime Minister Han is expected to report to the Government Seoul Building immediately on the morning of the day and express his readiness to return. Previously, Choi Jae-hae, the Auditor General, also shared his thoughts right after the Constitutional Court's decision on the 13th, after returning to work following a dismissal of the impeachment motion.
Prime Minister Han is also expected to receive a business report related to current issues from Acting Minister Choi, who served as acting president during his suspension of duties.
There is also a possibility that Prime Minister Han will convene a Cabinet meeting or an emergency Cabinet meeting. Some analyses suggest that he may deliver a 'public address' conveying a message of national unity during this meeting. When President Yoon Suk-yeol's duties were suspended on Dec. 14, 2024, Prime Minister Han previously convened an emergency Cabinet meeting as his first duty as acting president.
Alongside this, he is expected to convene the National Security Council (NSC) to assess the security situation. Prime Minister Han also convened the NSC after the emergency Cabinet meeting on Dec. 14, 2024, instructing for 'a meticulous readiness posture.'
Amid U.S. security and trade pressures, Prime Minister Han is also expected to make efforts to 'normalize diplomatic relations.' Prime Minister Han has served as the head of trade negotiations during the Kim Dae-jung administration, as Deputy Prime Minister during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, and as Prime Minister. He was the South Korean Ambassador to the United States during the Lee Myung-bak administration, where he dealt with the U.S. Congress's ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He is also known to have communication channels with associates of President Trump.
Prime Minister Han, a U.S. trade expert, is reported to have been contemplating ways to respond to U.S. protectionism by understanding the contents of research reports related to U.S. tariffs and global trade war issues, even during his suspension of duties.
Meanwhile, if Prime Minister Han returns as acting president, his security will be strengthened to a level equivalent to that of the president.