A majority of South Korea’s parliament voted on Friday (December 27, 2024) to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo.
Prime Minister Han has been acting President since President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on Dec. 14 over his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, and his presidential powers were suspended.
After Mr. Han’s impeachment, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next in line to assume the acting presidency, according to South Korean law.
Some 192 lawmakers voted to impeach Han out of the 300-member parliament.
Han Duck-soo took over as acting President from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on December 3.
But opposition MPs now want Mr. Han, who is also Prime Minister, removed from office too, arguing that he is refusing demands to complete Mr. Yoon’s impeachment process and to bring him to justice.
“Today our Democratic Party impeaches Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in accordance with the people’s order,” said Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
“The ‘acting authority’ has transformed into ‘insurrectionary authority’.”
In the impeachment motion put before Parliament, the Opposition said Mr. Han is “intentionally avoiding the special investigation to probe those involved in the insurrection and has clearly stated his intention to reject the appointments of three Constitutional Court judges”.
Such actions, the motion said, are “in violation of a public official’s duty to uphold the law… and serve the public”.
If the Opposition succeeds in its bid, South Korea will see its second impeachment of a head of state in less than two weeks, further destabilising its vibrant political scene.
It will also mark the first time South Korea has impeached an acting President.
Holding an emergency press conference with cabinet members, Mr. Choi pleaded against the opposition’s action.
“An impeachment motion against the acting authority is no different from an impeachment motion against the entire cabinet,” Mr. Choi said.
“Our economy and people’s livelihoods, which are walking on thin ice in a national emergency, cannot bear the expansion of political uncertainty surrounding the acting authority,” he added.
‘True colours’
At the heart of the current row is the composition of the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold parliament’s decision to impeach Mr. Yoon.
The court is currently short of three judges. While it can go ahead with its six members on the bench, a single dissenting vote would reinstate Mr. Yoon.
The Opposition wants Mr. Han to approve three more nominees to fill the nine-member bench, something that he has so far refused to do, essentially leaving both sides in deadlock.
Mr. Han’s refusal to formally appoint the three judges “revealed his true colours”, said Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seoung-lae.
The refusal “is a direct challenge to the Constitution and the law”, said Mr, Jo, adding the party would seek to impeach Han to “restore constitutional order and stabilise state affairs”.
Mr. Han has said that he would certify the judges’ appointments only if his ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the opposition reach a compromise on the nominees.
“The consistent principle embedded in our constitution and laws is to refrain from exercising significant exclusive presidential powers, including the appointment of constitutional institutions,” Mr. Han argued.
“A consensus between the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly, representing the people, must first be reached,” added the 75-year-old career bureaucrat.
Amid the increasingly protracted political crisis, the South Korean won plummeted to KRW 1480.2 on Friday morning, marking its lowest level in nearly 16 years.
The won initially plunged to a two-year low against the dollar after the declaration of the martial law, as investors already concerned about the state of Asia’s number-three economy shunned the currency.
Published – December 27, 2024 11:27 am IST
