South Korea’s political landscape plunged further into turmoil as the nation’s parliament voted on Friday to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. The move, spearheaded by the opposition Democratic Party (DP), has deepened uncertainty in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, sending the South Korean won to its lowest level against the US dollar since the 2007-2009 global financial crisis.
Majority Vote Ousts Acting President
The National Assembly, controlled by the DP with its 170 seats, voted 192-0 to impeach Han. Members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, labeling it unconstitutional.
Han had been serving as acting president since December 14, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yoon was suspended from office after his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, which he justified as a response to “anti-state forces.”
With Han’s impeachment, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now next in line to assume the acting presidency.
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Opposition’s Grievance
The DP argued that Han had failed to fulfill his duties by refusing to appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the constitutional court. These appointments are critical, as at least six judges must rule unanimously to finalize the impeachment of Yoon.
Although the DP-backed nominees were approved in parliament on Thursday, Han insisted on bipartisan agreement before formalizing their appointments. This led the opposition to accuse him of stalling and pushed forward the impeachment vote.
Legal and Political Uncertainty
The decision to impeach Han has sparked a constitutional debate. While a two-thirds majority is required to impeach a sitting president, there is no clarity on whether the same rule applies to an acting leader. The DP argued that only a simple majority of 151 votes was needed, citing provisions for removing cabinet members. Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik, a DP member, supported this interpretation, allowing the impeachment to proceed.
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Rising Tensions in Parliament
The vote triggered heated protests from the PPP, with lawmakers calling the decision invalid and urging Han to ignore the impeachment. Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride reported from Seoul that South Korea is navigating “uncharted constitutional waters,” with no clear consensus on what comes next. In a statement, Han announced his decision to step aside, saying, “I will await the constitutional court’s ruling to avoid further chaos.”
Economic Fallout
The political instability has already taken a toll on South Korea’s economy. The won fell sharply against the US dollar, dropping below 1,480 won for the first time since March 2009. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok warned that the impeachment would further damage the country’s economic standing.
“Our economy and livelihoods are walking on thin ice,” Choi said, urging lawmakers to reconsider their actions during what he described as a “national state of emergency.”
