Tue Dec 24 06:39:54 UTC 2024: ## South Korea’s Political Crisis Deepens as Opposition Seeks to Impeach Acting President
**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea’s political turmoil deepened on December 24th, 2024, as the main opposition Democratic Party announced its intention to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo. This follows Mr. Han’s failure to meet the opposition’s deadline to approve independent investigations into impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.
Mr. Han, who assumed presidential powers after Mr. Yoon’s impeachment on December 3rd following a controversial martial law declaration, has been criticized for vetoing opposition bills and delaying the appointment of justices to the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing Mr. Yoon’s impeachment. The opposition demands investigations into Mr. Yoon for rebellion and his wife for corruption.
The Democratic Party, holding a parliamentary majority, claims Mr. Han’s actions demonstrate his subservience to Mr. Yoon. Party leader Park Chan-dae stated that negotiations regarding investigations into Mr. Yoon are unacceptable and impeachment proceedings will commence immediately.
The ruling People Power Party countered that the impeachment threat is an act of intimidation interfering with Mr. Han’s authority. Legal ambiguities surround the impeachment process for an acting president, with differing interpretations on the required parliamentary majority.
Meanwhile, separate investigations into Mr. Yoon’s actions, including the deployment of troops to the National Assembly, are underway. Several senior military and police officials have already been arrested in connection with this event.
The Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide Mr. Yoon’s fate. If removed from office, a national election will be held within two months. The ongoing political crisis continues to raise concerns both domestically and internationally.
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