South Korean Parliament Impeaches Acting President Han Duck-soo Amid Growing Uncertainty
International news section 27-12-2024
South Korea’s political landscape faces further upheaval as its parliament voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, exacerbating uncertainty in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The turmoil has significantly impacted the national currency, pushing it to its weakest level since the global financial crisis of 2007-2009.
On Friday, 192 of the 300 lawmakers supported Han’s impeachment, a move boycotted by members of the ruling party. Han had been serving as acting president since December 14, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol over his controversial imposition of martial law earlier in the month, which led to the suspension of his presidential powers.
With Han’s removal, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next in line to assume the acting presidency, as stipulated by South Korean law.
The impeachment, initiated by the Democratic Party (DP), which holds a parliamentary majority with 170 seats, stemmed from Han’s failure to promptly appoint three justices to the constitutional court. Although the DP-backed nominees were approved on Thursday, Han insisted on bipartisan agreement before formalizing their appointments, sparking fierce contention.
The disagreement extended to the impeachment process itself, with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) arguing that a two-thirds majority was necessary to remove an acting president. However, DP-aligned Speaker Woo Won-shik asserted that a simple majority sufficed, enabling the impeachment to proceed.
Reporting from Seoul, Rob McBride described the parliamentary session as “remarkable,” with PPP members vehemently opposing the decision and urging Han to disregard the impeachment vote.
Han announced his intention to step aside, stating he would await a constitutional court decision on the matter. At least six justices on the court must uphold Yoon’s impeachment for it to be finalized. However, the court currently has only six members following the retirement of three judges earlier this year, meaning a unanimous decision would be required.
President Yoon remains under criminal investigation for alleged insurrection and abuse of power but has defended his martial law decree as a necessary measure to address “anti-state forces.”
The impeachment of Han, who had served as acting president for less than two weeks, has deepened South Korea’s political and economic instability. Finance Minister Choi criticized the decision, warning that it could severely harm the country’s economic standing and exacerbate challenges for its citizens.
“The economy and people’s livelihoods are on precarious ground amid a national emergency,” Choi stated, urging lawmakers to reconsider their approach.
The South Korean won plunged below 1,480 against the US dollar on Friday, marking its lowest value since March 2009 and reflecting the growing economic strain accompanying the ongoing political crisis.
