South Korean Parliament Votes to Remove Acting President Amid Constitutional Crisis

Friday 27 December 2024 - 15:20

By: Dakir Madiha

South Korean Parliament Votes to Remove Acting President Amid Constitutional Crisis

South Korea's parliament voted to impeach Acting-President Han Duck-soo on Friday, marking an unprecedented second impeachment within a month in the nation's political history. The motion passed with 192 lawmakers supporting the removal of Duck-soo from office.

The impeachment follows allegations that Duck-soo participated in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial declaration of martial law and attempted dissolution of Parliament. The situation escalated when lawmakers were forced to physically break into the parliament building to maintain legislative operations.

The Democratic Party, which holds a parliamentary majority, spearheaded the impeachment process. The opposition accused Duck-soo of impeding investigations into former President Yoon and his wife Keon-hee. Tensions heightened when Duck-soo refused to appoint three judges to the constitutional court—the body responsible for ruling on Yoon's impeachment—citing limitations of his role as acting president.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung strongly criticized Duck-soo's decision, characterizing his actions as supportive of insurrection. The impeachment process requires only a simple majority vote for high-ranking officials like Duck-soo, while the previous impeachment of President Yoon necessitated broader support, including votes from members of his own party.

This latest development deepens the constitutional crisis in South Korea, raising questions about governmental stability and the balance of power between executive and legislative branches.