SEOUL: South Korean lawmakers impeached acting president Han Duck-soo on Friday, deepening the political crisis in the country, just two weeks after his predecessor was suspended over a martial law declaration. Han, who had assumed the presidency on December 14 after parliament impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, was stripped of his duties by opposition MPs who accused him of failing to advance Yoon’s impeachment process.
The National Assembly passed the impeachment motion with 192 votes in favor. Lawmakers from the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) protested loudly, demanding the resignation of the speaker and boycotting the vote. This marks South Korea’s second presidential impeachment in two weeks and its first impeachment of an acting president.
Despite the impeachment, Han respected the parliament’s decision, stating he would wait for the Constitutional Courtβs ruling. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, now serving as acting president and prime minister, pledged to minimize the political turmoil. Meanwhile, South Korea’s won hit a 16-year low against the US dollar amid the crisis.
