Acting President Han Duck-soo bangs the gavel to begin a Cabinet meeting at Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Acting President Han Duck-soo is back in office with critical tasks ahead, one of which is engaging with U.S. President Donald Trump to revive the stalled summit-level diplomacy between the allies, which has been on hold for months.

Han, who was reinstated by the Constitutional Court on Monday after being suspended for 87 days due to impeachment, will continue serving as the acting leader while President Yoon Suk Yeol remains suspended from duty since Dec. 14. Former acting President Choi Sang-mok has now reverted to his role as finance minister and deputy prime minister.

A seasoned technocrat with extensive experience in economic and diplomatic affairs, Han previously served as Korea's ambassador to the U.S. and has played a key role in trade negotiations between the two countries.

A direct phone call with Trump, which Choi had sought since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 21 but failed to secure, is expected to be Han's top priority as he works to alleviate growing concerns over Korea being sidelined in U.S. diplomatic engagements.

The current gap in summit diplomacy is more evident than in 2017, when Trump spoke with then-acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn just nine days after his inauguration. Back then, Seoul was going through similar political turmoil with then-President Park Geun-hye facing her own impeachment trial for corruption scandals.

Amid the stalled diplomacy, officials in Seoul have missed opportunities to engage with Trump's key officials, who have bypassed Korea in their regional engagements amid the domestic political uncertainty.

Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's first Asia tour included Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii and Guam, but skipped Seoul. Reports suggest that Hegseth initially planned to visit Korea, but the trip was scrapped due to the ongoing political turmoil.

Korea was also absent from U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's itinerary as she concluded her Indo-Pacific visit on Saturday, stopping in Japan, India and Thailand, according to Japanese media reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listen during an event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Local observers view that Han's direct engagement with Trump is urgently needed amid looming threats of higher tariffs, which would severely impact the nation's export-driven economy. On the security front, Seoul should assess the Trump administration's policy direction on North Korea and ensure active involvement should the U.S. president seek renewed engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The acting president vowed to dedicate his diplomatic efforts to responding to the turmoil caused by U.S. tariffs.

"Our country is currently facing a grave situation. The impact of the U.S.-led trade war is hitting the global economy hard, while the domestic economy remains sluggish and rising prices are further exacerbating the difficulties faced by citizens and small business owners," Han said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

"Drawing on my experience in trade and diplomacy, I will dedicate all my efforts to navigating the storm of U.S.-imposed tariffs."

Later in the day, Han held a meeting with industry, trade and foreign ministers to discuss response plans ahead of the April 2 deadline set by Trump for his country-to-country reciprocal tariff measures.

The White House said Tuesday that it is committed to working with the acting president, marking the first official statement by the Trump administration addressing Korea's political situation.

"The U.S. is committed to working with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the ROK government. We are confident in the democratic resilience of the ROK and the Korean People," the White House said in a statement, according to the Prime Minister's Office. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

"South Korea and the U.S. agree on the importance of high-level communication. So we are currently engaging in working-level discussions on the matter," foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.

But it remains unclear whether Trump will be willing to engage with Korea's acting leadership, given the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the country's political direction as the Constitutional Court has yet to announce a verdict on Yoon's impeachment.

If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon will be officially removed from office and a new leader will be elected within two months. If dismissed, the embattled president will return to office immediately.