South Korean opposition threatens impeachment of acting president over martial law probe

South Korea's main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), has issued a stark warning to Acting President Han Duck-soo, threatening to initiate impeachment proceedings against him if he fails to approve legislation for a special counsel investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who assumed the role of acting president following Yoon’s suspension on December 14, now faces pressure to approve the bill that would appoint a special counsel to investigate Yoon, accusing him of insurrection, among other charges, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The investigation would also include an inquiry into Yoon's wife over allegations related to a luxury bag scandal.

The Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, passed the bill earlier this month, seeking a formal investigation into Yoon's controversial martial law proposal. They have accused Han of complicity in supporting Yoon's martial law push and have reported him to the police for his alleged role.

In a party meeting on December 23, Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae emphasized that Han’s failure to act on the bill would prompt immediate impeachment proceedings. "The delays show that the prime minister has no intention of complying with the constitution, and it is tantamount to admitting that he is acting as a proxy for the insurgent," Park said, referring to President Yoon.

Han, a seasoned technocrat with over three decades of political experience under both conservative and liberal administrations, was appointed by Yoon as prime minister in 2022. His office has not yet responded to the opposition’s threat, though Han has previously expressed regret for not preventing Yoon’s martial law attempt, stating that he tried to block the decision but failed.

In addition to the martial law investigation, the opposition has accused Yoon of obstructing the Constitutional Court's review of his impeachment by repeatedly refusing to accept court documents notifying him of the trial’s initiation. Park Chan-dae argued that delays in the investigation were "an extension of the insurrection and an act of plotting a second one."

The ruling People Power Party has strongly criticized the opposition's stance, accusing the DP of using "impeachment politics" to hold Han’s fate "hostage" in an effort to push through the special counsel, despite ongoing investigations into Yoon’s actions.

The Constitutional Court, on December 23, clarified that it would proceed with the impeachment trial, considering the presidential office’s refusal to accept court documents as valid delivery. The court confirmed that the trial would continue despite Yoon’s objections.

Meanwhile, a joint investigative team, including the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, has made a second attempt to summon Yoon for questioning on December 25, though it remains unclear whether he will appear. Yoon’s defence team, led by lawyer Seok Dong-hyeon, stated that they are not delaying the trial but need additional time to prepare, adding that they would respond to investigations only after the impeachment decision is made.

Police, meanwhile, have struggled to gain access to Yoon’s office, with national police chief Woo Jong-soo reporting to parliament that two attempts to raid the presidential office were blocked by the presidential security service. Woo added that his team had submitted a request to preserve evidence, including a secure phone server.

By Tamilla Hasanova