Ankara: South Korea's top court will rule on impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment case next week, according to a media report. The Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict on Monday, as reported by Seoul-based Yonhap News.

According to Anadolu Agency, if the verdict is upheld, Han Duck-soo will be removed from office. Conversely, a reversal of the decision will see him immediately reinstated. This ruling is significant as it will set a precedent for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment ruling by the top court, amid ongoing legal debates in the National Assembly concerning the legality of a Dec. 3 martial law in Han's case.

The potential implications are substantial. Should the Constitutional Court find the martial law decree unconstitutional and illegal, it is likely the same judgment will be applied to President Yoon's case. However, the main opposition Democratic Party has expressed "deep regret" over the decision to prioritize the premier's verdict before Yoon's.

Han was appointed acting president following Yoon's impeachment on Dec. 14 due to his short-lived martial law. The National Assembly subsequently impeached Han on Dec. 27, citing his role in assisting Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, as well as his refusal to appoint Constitutional Court justices.