South Korean parliament impeaches acting president amid political turmoil

South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, just two weeks after lawmakers moved to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. 

A total of 192 members of the National Assembly voted in favor of Han’s impeachment, surpassing the 151 votes needed for the motion to succeed, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Han, who became acting president following Yoon's impeachment by parliament on December 3 due to his failed attempt to impose martial law, was expected to navigate the country through its political crisis. However, opposition lawmakers accused him of obstructing the completion of Yoon’s impeachment process.

The vote took place amid chaos in parliament with members of Yoon and Han’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) protesting after National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes would be required to pass the impeachment motion. Unlike the 200 votes needed for Yoon’s impeachment, this meant that ruling party lawmakers' votes were no longer essential for Han’s removal. 

In response, PPP members gathered in the center of the chamber, shouting "invalid!" and "abuse of power!" They also called for the Speaker's resignation and most of them boycotted the vote.

Once Han is officially notified by parliament, he will be suspended from his duties. However, like Yoon, Han’s impeachment must also be validated by South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to decide whether the impeachment will stand.

Han expressed respect for the National Assembly’s decision, stating he would await the Constitutional Court’s ruling. The impeachment motion was filed by the opposition on December 26 after Han blocked the appointment of three judges chosen by parliament to oversee Yoon’s case.

South Korea’s Constitutional Court, which typically consists of nine judges, requires at least six votes to uphold an impeachment. Currently, there are only six judges on the bench, meaning a single rejection could save Yoon from removal. The opposition had hoped the three additional judge nominees would improve the chances of Yoon’s impeachment being upheld.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is set to replace Han as acting president. Han’s removal is expected to deepen the ongoing political deadlock and uncertainty facing the country. On the same day, the Korean won fell to its lowest level against the dollar since the global financial crisis 16 years ago, with both parties blaming each other for the turmoil.

By Vafa Guliyeva