South Korea’s Court Dismisses Impeachments of Auditor, Prosecutors

The Constitutional Court of South Korea has unanimously dismissed impeachment motions against Choe Jae-hae, the chair of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and three prosecutors, including Lee Chang-soo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. This ruling reinstates the officials after a 98-day suspension and marks a significant decision in the context of the ongoing impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The court found no evidence of political motivation behind the audits conducted by Choe or any misconduct by the prosecutors concerning First Lady Kim Keon-hee's alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scandal. The presidential office welcomed the court's decision, viewing it as a rebuke of what it perceives as excessive impeachment efforts by the opposition. This dismissal comes amid claims from Yoon that the opposition's actions have paralyzed state affairs. The court's decisions could influence its forthcoming ruling on Yoon's own impeachment trial.