South Korean Lawmakers Vote to Impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo
South Korea’s National Assembly has impeached acting president Han Duck-soo, just two weeks after parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
A total of 192 lawmakers voted in favor of Han’s impeachment, surpassing the 151 votes required. Han assumed the acting presidency after Yoon was impeached for attempting to impose martial law on December 3.
Opposition lawmakers accused Han of obstructing efforts to finalize Yoon’s impeachment process, a claim that further deepened the nation’s political crisis.
Chaos in Parliament
Friday’s vote was marked by dramatic scenes in parliament. Members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), aligned with Yoon and Han, erupted in protest after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes were needed to pass Han’s impeachment, unlike the 200 votes required for Yoon’s impeachment.
Ruling party lawmakers gathered in the chamber, chanting “invalid!” and “abuse of power!” They demanded the Speaker’s resignation and boycotted the vote.
Han will be suspended from his duties immediately upon official notification from parliament. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is set to replace him as acting president.
Opposition’s Strategy and Court Battle
The impeachment motion against Han was filed after he blocked the appointment of three judges selected by parliament to oversee Yoon’s impeachment trial.
The Constitutional Court, which will decide on the impeachment cases of both Yoon and Han, currently has only six judges. At least six votes are required to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, meaning a single dissenting vote could save him. The opposition had hoped the three additional judges would increase the chances of upholding Yoon’s removal.
This marks the first time an acting president has been impeached in South Korea’s democratic history.
Han’s Statement and Political Fallout
“I respect the decision of the National Assembly,” Han said on Friday, adding that he would await the Constitutional Court’s ruling. He also stated that he would suspend his duties to avoid exacerbating the political crisis.
The turmoil began on December 3, when Yoon declared martial law, citing the need to counter “anti-state” forces. The order was swiftly overturned by 190 MPs, who entered the voting chamber by climbing fences and breaking barricades. Yoon later apologized, claiming his intent was to protect democracy.
Since then, Yoon and his allies have faced mounting legal and political consequences. Top officials have been arrested on charges of insurrection, and Yoon himself is under investigation while barred from leaving the country.
Economic Impact and Outlook
The political crisis has significantly impacted South Korea’s economy. On Friday, the Korean won fell to its lowest value against the U.S. dollar since the 2008 global financial crisis. Both ruling and opposition parties blamed each other for the chaos.
Han’s impeachment is expected to intensify political gridlock, adding to the uncertainty in the country.
