- South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo impeached unanimously amid political turmoil.
- Han’s impeachment triggers uncertainty in the country’s political landscape and the economy.
- The People Power Party boycotted the vote, demanding the resignation of the National Assembly speaker.
- Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party leader, insists that Han should stay in control despite the impeachment.
Unanimous Impeachment Vote Adds to Political Crisis
On Friday, South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly passed a unanimous vote to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo. The decision plunges the nation further into political crisis following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s sudden martial law enactment and subsequent impeachment. Han Duck-soo will be stripped of the presidential obligations and powers until the Constitutional Court determines whether to reinstate or dismiss him.
Continued Turbulence for Top Officials
The impeachment of the two highest-ranking state officials has brought about even more turmoil in a country already grappling with political uncertainty. This situation adds to the economic unpredictability and damages South Korea’s global standing. The governing People Power Party lawmakers protested against the impeachment vote, deeming it “invalid” and demanding the National Assembly speaker, Woo Won Shik’s resignation. Nevertheless, the voting proceeded smoothly, with no instances of violence or injuries.
Impeachment Procedure Controversy
Disagreements arose regarding the impeachment process. Woo Won Shik held that a simple majority in the 300-member assembly was sufficient for Han’s impeachment. The statement led to protests from PPP lawmakers who insisted on a two-thirds majority. There is ambiguity in the impeachment laws regarding an acting president, complicating the situation further. Following Han’s impeachment, copies of the impeachment document will be provided to him and the Constitutional Court, officially suspending his powers.
Interim Leadership and Future Outlook
In the interim, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will assume leadership roles. However, the completion of the impeachment has given rise to concerns about the continuity of state affairs. According to Agence France-Presse, the People Power Party leader Kweon Seong-dong insists that Han “must continue to lead state affairs without yielding to the opposition’s passage of the impeachment motion.”
Han, however, stated that he “respects the parliament’s decision” and will await the Constitutional Court’s ruling on whether to uphold his impeachment. The interim president is awaiting critical decisions in the midst of dealing with issues related to the Constitutional Court, independent investigations into Yoon’s martial law decree, and pro-farmer bills.
Implications for Yoon’s Impeachment Case
Yoon, who had selected Han as prime minister, was impeached previously following the imposition of martial law. This impeachment was a significant point of contention between Han and the Democratic Party as he resisted opposition-led efforts to appoint three new justices to the Constitutional Court.
A verdict to remove Yoon from his presidential position would necessitate support from at least six justices, with the addition of more justices possibly increasing the chances of Yoon’s removal. Yoon’s political allies in the People Power Party are against the appointment of the three justices, arguing that Han should not exercise presidential authority for the appointments while Yoon’s formal removal from office remains still up for debate.
South Korean investigators are now exploring whether Yoon has broken any laws with his martial law enactment, with several of his senior military commanders having already been detained.
The recent improprieties in South Korean politics, leading to the impeachments of two of the nation’s top officials, have cast a dark cloud over the nation’s future. The coming days will be decisive for South Korea, as the Constitional Court’s verdicts on these impeachments and consequent decisions will shape its political, economic, and international standing.