South Korea faces escalating political turmoil as lawmakers voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, marking the second such action in just two weeks. This decision follows the controversy surrounding former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law order, which plunged the nation into crisis.
The National Assembly overwhelmingly passed the impeachment motion against Han, with 192 votes in favor. Members of the opposition, who hold a majority, pushed the decision through, while lawmakers from the governing People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. The PPP labeled the proceedings as illegitimate during a heated parliamentary session. Until the Constitutional Court renders a verdict, Han’s presidential powers will be suspended.
Han, also serving as the country’s prime minister, assumed leadership on an interim basis following Yoon’s impeachment earlier this month. Yoon’s controversial martial law decree, which lasted a mere six hours on December 3, led to widespread outrage and his eventual downfall. His trial began recently, with the Constitutional Court given up to six months to determine whether to uphold or overturn his impeachment.
Yoon’s decision to impose martial law triggered accusations of rebellion and abuse of power, leading to investigations by South Korea’s legal and investigative bodies. Senior officials, including his defense minister, police chief, and key military commanders, were arrested after deploying troops to parliament during the enforcement of martial law.
Han’s tenure as acting president has been fraught with challenges. His relationship with the liberal opposition Democratic Party has been particularly contentious. Disagreements arose over key issues such as filling three vacant seats on the Constitutional Court, establishing an independent investigation into Yoon’s actions, and enacting pro-farmer legislation. The Democratic Party, in response to Han’s resistance, submitted the impeachment motion against him.
The appointments to the Constitutional Court are especially critical, as the newly appointed judges will play a pivotal role in determining Yoon’s fate. At least six of the nine judges must support the impeachment for it to be upheld. However, the PPP argued that Han, as an interim leader, should not exercise presidential authority to make such appointments, especially with Yoon’s status still pending.
Han attempted to adopt a bipartisan approach, stating he would not proceed with judicial appointments without cross-party consensus. Despite this, the Democratic Party, leveraging its parliamentary majority, pushed forward with bills advocating for the immediate appointment of the judges and Han’s impeachment.
Once the impeachment process is formally concluded, Han’s authority will officially be revoked, and the deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, will assume leadership responsibilities until the court’s decision. This ongoing crisis reflects the deepening divisions within South Korea’s political landscape, raising concerns about the stability of its governance structure.
