South Korean lawmakers impeach second president in two weeks

South Korean lawmakers impeached acting president Han Duck-soo on Friday, sinking the country even deeper into political crisis two weeks after his predecessor was suspended over a martial law declaration that shocked the world.

Han, a career bureaucrat who was serving as prime minister, took over from President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14 after parliament voted to impeach him on allegations of insurrection.

Opposition MPs have now also stripped Han of his duties, arguing that he refused demands to complete Yoon's impeachment process and to bring him to justice.

"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.

South Korea’s ruling People Power Party lawmakers protest against National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik during the impeachment vote, December 27, 2024.Reuters

Lawmakers from the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) loudly protested in parliament after the speaker said only a simple majority was required for impeachment to pass, instead of the two-thirds required to remove Yoon.

PPP lawmakers began chanting angrily, with many rushing towards Woo, demanding that he resign. They did not take part in the vote.

Second impeachment in two weeks

In addition to being the second impeachment of a head of state in just two weeks, Friday's vote was also South Korea's first impeachment of an acting president.

PPP leader Kweon Seong-dong said after the vote that Han "must continue to lead state affairs without yielding to the opposition's passage of the impeachment motion".

South Korea’s ruling People Power Party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong sits during the impeachment vote, December 27, 2024.

However, Han said in a statement that he "respects the parliament's decision" and would wait for the Constitutional Court's subsequent decision on whether to uphold it.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is now stepping into the roles of both acting president and prime minister, pledged to do all he can to end the political upheaval gripping his country.

"Minimizing governmental turmoil is of utmost importance at this moment," Choi said in an address shortly after his appointment as acting leader, adding that "the government will also dedicate all its efforts to overcoming this period of turmoil."

Amid the ongoing crisis, South Korea's won touched a 16-year low against the US dollar on Friday, faring worse than in the immediate aftermath of Yoon's martial law declaration, which sent the currency sliding to a two-year low against the greenback.

Seoul's stocks also tumbled, with the KOSPI Index closing down by 1.02 percent on Friday.

Constitutional Court

At the heart of the backlash against Han was his refusal to appoint additional judges to the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold parliament's decision to impeach Yoon, and now Han as well.

The court held its first preliminary hearing on the validity of Yoon's impeachment on Friday, despite the latest controversy, with the suspended president's legal team attending.

South Korean Constitutional Court's Judge Lee Mi-son and Cheong Hyung-sik sit in during the first preparatory hearing of a trial on the validity of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment December 27, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea.

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, which he had refused to do, leaving both sides in deadlock.

Han's refusal to formally appoint more judges "revealed his true colors", said Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seoung-lae.

South Korean Constitutional Court's Judge Lee Mi-son and Cheong Hyung-sik sit in during the first preparatory hearing of a trial on the validity of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, December 27, 2024.Reuters

The refusal "is a direct challenge to the Constitution and the law", said Jo.

'Violation of duty'

The opposition said in its impeachment motion that Han was "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, it said, were "in violation of a public official's duty to uphold the law... and serve the public".

Han had said he wanted his PPP and the opposition to reach a compromise on the nominees.

South Korea’s ruling People Power Party lawmakers protest against National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik during the impeachment vote, December 27, 2024.Reuters

"The consistent principle embedded in our constitution and laws is to refrain from exercising significant exclusive presidential powers, including the appointment of constitutional institutions," he argued.

The United States affirmed its "ironclad" commitment to South Korea, a key strategic ally against North Korea and China, after news of Han's impeachment.

"We reiterate our support for the Republic of Korea (ROK), its citizens and democratic processes, and the rule of law," Pentagon spokesman Major Pete Nguyen said in a statement, referring to the South by its official name.