Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — South Korea’s political crisis deepened as Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was impeached in a parliamentary vote. A total of 192 lawmakers supported the motion on Friday, December 27, intensifying political uncertainty just two weeks after President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.
According to CNBC Indonesia, South Korean lawmakers impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday after determining that he actively participated in an uprising following his predecessor’s declaration of martial law earlier this month.
“I announce that the motion to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has passed. Of the 192 lawmakers who voted, all 192 supported the impeachment,” National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik declared.
Previously on Thursday (December 26), opposition lawmakers accused Han of deliberately obstructing a special investigation and openly refusing to approve the appointments of three Constitutional Court judges.
“These actions violate the duty of public officials to uphold the law and serve the public,” read the parliamentary motion.
Acting President Impeachment
This marks the first time in South Korean history that an acting president has been impeached. Following Han’s impeachment, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will assume the role of acting president.
Han, previously serving as South Korea’s Prime Minister, was expected to lead the country through a period of political chaos. Han assumed the role of acting president on December 3 after Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office.
However, opposition lawmakers argued that he failed to address demands for resolving Yoon’s impeachment process.
Han Duck-soo will be suspended from his duties as soon as he receives official parliamentary notification. Similar to Yoon’s case, Han’s impeachment must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to issue a ruling.
“I respect the decision of the National Assembly,” Han said, adding that he would await the Constitutional Court’s verdict.
South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol Impeached: Parliament Votes to Suspend Power!
The opposition party initially filed the impeachment motion against Han on Thursday, December 26, 2024, after he blocked the appointments of three judges slated to preside over Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment trial.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court, consisting of nine judges, requires at least six votes in favor of impeachment to uphold the decision against Yoon Suk-yeol.
The escalating political crisis raises concerns about governance stability in South Korea amid heightened tensions and unresolved leadership disputes.
(Raidi/Agung)
