In brief
Lawmakers voted decisively, with 192 members supporting the motion, amidst chaotic scenes in parliament, setting the stage for a possible constitutional showdown.
In a significant escalation of South Korea's ongoing political turmoil, the National Assembly voted to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, following a tumultuous period marked by the previous impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The impeachment motion passed with 192 votes in favor, surpassing the 151 votes required for approval. This development comes just two weeks after parliament ousted President Yoon amid controversy surrounding his attempts to impose martial law on December 3rd.Han Duck-soo assumed the presidency after Yoon's impeachment, but his tenure was marred by opposition accusations of failure to facilitate Yoon's impeachment proceedings. The vote in parliament was characterized by chaos and dissent, especially from the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Lawmakers protested loudly when National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik announced the lower threshold for Han's impeachment, which did not strictly require ruling party support—a stark contrast to the higher vote requirement that had been necessary for Yoon's removal.In response to the vote, members of the PPP shouted against what they described as an "abuse of power," and many boycotted the proceedings altogether. Han's suspension from his duties is expected to take effect once parliament formally notifies him. The path forward for both impeachments now leads to South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which has a six-month timeframe to rule on the validity of the impeachments.The opposition's push for Han's impeachment was primarily triggered by his decision to block the appointment of three judges intended to oversee Yoon's impeachment case. Currently, the Constitutional Court is operating with only six judges, meaning that a single dissenting vote could prevent Yoon's removal from office. The opposition had hoped that appointing the three judges would bolster Yoon's chances of being impeached.As uncertainty looms over the political landscape, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is poised to take over as acting president while the nation contends with rising economic strains. The Korean won hit a historic low against the dollar in the aftermath of these political events, as both sides of the aisle trade accusations of responsibility for the current instability.This latest chapter in South Korean politics highlights the fragile nature of governance in the country and sets the stage for what may be a contentious period ahead. Further updates on this developing story are anticipated as the situation unfolds.
