Thu Dec 26 10:55:30 UTC 2024: ## South Korea’s Political Crisis Deepens: Opposition Moves to Impeach Acting President
**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea’s political turmoil intensified Thursday as the main opposition Democratic Party filed an impeachment motion against Acting President Han Duck-soo. The move comes amidst a standoff over the appointment of three judges to the Constitutional Court, which is poised to rule on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
President Yoon was impeached by parliament on December 14th following his controversial declaration of martial law on December 3rd. However, the Constitutional Court, currently three judges short, must uphold the impeachment for it to be legally binding. A single dissenting vote could reinstate Yoon.
Acting President Han has refused to appoint the judges without bipartisan agreement, a stance the opposition deems a dereliction of duty. The Democratic Party argues Han’s refusal to fill the vacancies demonstrates a lack of commitment to upholding the constitution, deliberately obstructing the impeachment process. They accuse him of intentionally delaying the court’s deliberation to protect Yoon.
“Han’s refusal to formally appoint the three judges proves that he ‘does not have the will or qualification to uphold the constitution’,” stated Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae. The impeachment motion further alleges that Han is also obstructing investigations into allegations of corruption against President Yoon and his wife.
The impeachment motion will be put to a vote on Friday. If successful, it would mark a historic precedent in South Korea, leading to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok assuming the role of acting president. The move underscores the deep political divisions gripping the nation as the Constitutional Court prepares to make a decision that could reshape the political landscape. Meanwhile, President Yoon continues to evade questioning regarding rebellion charges.
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