South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting president after two weeks in office

Asia-Pacific, News December 28, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

3 minute read

South Korea’s National Assembly voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck Soo on December 27, 2024, intensifying the country’s ongoing political crisis. The decision comes just two weeks after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

A total of 192 lawmakers backed the motion against Han, surpassing the required 151 votes. Han had stepped into the role of acting president following Yoon’s impeachment earlier this month after his controversial attempt to impose martial law on December 3. Opposition lawmakers accused Han of stalling the impeachment process against Yoon and filed the motion to remove him on Thursday.

“I respect the decision of the National Assembly,” Han said following the vote. He pledged to suspend his duties to “not add to the chaos,” while awaiting the Constitutional Court’s ruling. The court now has 180 days to confirm or overturn his impeachment.

The vote was marked by chaos and high drama in the National Assembly. Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), to which both Yoon and Han belong, erupted in protest after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik ruled that only 151 votes, rather than the 200 required for Yoon’s impeachment, would be needed to pass the motion.

Chants of “invalid!” and “abuse of power!” echoed through the chamber as PPP lawmakers called for Woo to step down and boycotted the vote in protest. Opposition lawmakers, however, proceeded with the vote, leading to Han’s impeachment.

Buildup to Impeachment

The impeachment of Han follows his controversial decision to block the appointment of three judges selected by parliament to oversee Yoon’s impeachment trial. This move drew sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers, who accused Han of attempting to tilt the odds in favor of Yoon.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Duck-so — *^{South Korean former president Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Duck-soo at the presidential office in Seoul. (Image Credit: News1 Korea/via Korea JoongAng Daily)}*

The Constitutional Court, which is responsible for ruling on Yoon’s impeachment, currently has six judges on its nine-member bench. For the impeachment to be upheld, at least six judges must vote in favor, leaving no room for dissent. The blocked appointments were seen as critical to ensuring a fair trial.

Crisis and Economic Fallout

The dual impeachment saga began earlier this month when Yoon shocked the nation by declaring martial law, citing threats from “anti-state forces.” The announcement was met with widespread backlash, and within hours, parliament overturned the order in a dramatic session where lawmakers scaled fences and broke through barricades to enter the chamber.

Although Yoon apologized for his actions, the fallout has been severe. Key figures in his administration have been arrested and indicted on charges of insurrection. Meanwhile, Yoon himself faces an impeachment trial and has defied summons from investigators, despite being barred from leaving the country.

The political chaos has spilled over into South Korea’s economy. On Friday, the Korean won plunged to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar in 16 years, a stark indicator of the uncertainty gripping the nation. Both ruling and opposition parties blamed each other for the economic instability.

Future Ahead

Han’s impeachment leaves South Korea in uncharted territory. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is set to assume the role of acting president, but his tenure is likely to be fraught with challenges as the country grapples with deepening political gridlock and uncertainty.

*^{Acting South Korean President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo delivers an address to the nation at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, on December 14, 2024. (Image Credit: Yonhap)}*

Observers are now looking to the Constitutional Court to provide clarity on the nation’s leadership crisis. Both Yoon and Han’s fates hang in the balance, and the decisions made in the coming months will have far-reaching implications for South Korea’s democracy.

This unprecedented crisis has left the nation at a crossroads, with citizens and lawmakers alike waiting anxiously for resolutions that could stabilize a country in political and economic turmoil.