SOUTH KOREA’S PARLIAMENT has voted to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, finding he “actively participated in the insurrection” after his predecessor declared martial law earlier this month.

Han Duck-soo took over as acting president from Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on 3 December.

This is South Korea’s second impeachment of a head of state in less than two weeks, further destabilising its political scene.

It also marks the first time South Korea has impeached an acting president.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok would step in as acting president in Han’s place.

“I announce that Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s impeachment motion has passed. Out of the 192 lawmakers who voted, 192 voted to impeach,” said National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.

In the impeachment motion put before parliament, the opposition said Han “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, were “in violation of a public official’s duty to uphold the law… and serve the public”.

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 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 Yoon.

The opposition wanted Han to approve three more nominees to fill the nine-member bench, something that he refused to do, essentially leaving both sides in deadlock.

Han’s refusal to formally appoint the three judges “revealed his true colours”, said Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seoung-lae and “is a direct challenge to the Constitution and the law”.

Han had 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.

© – AFP 2024