Fri Dec 27 08:30:00 UTC 2024: ## South Korea’s Acting President Impeached Amidst Political Turmoil
**Seoul, South Korea** – In a dramatic escalation of South Korea’s ongoing political crisis, acting President Han Duck-soo was impeached by parliament on Friday, just two weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol faced the same fate. The vote, which saw 192 lawmakers in favor, surpasses the required 151 votes.
Han, who assumed the presidency following Yoon’s impeachment for attempting to impose martial law on December 3rd, was accused by the opposition of obstructing the impeachment process against Yoon. The vote was chaotic, with lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) protesting the reduced threshold needed for Han’s impeachment and staging a walkout.
The opposition had previously filed an impeachment motion against Han for blocking the appointment of three judges to the Constitutional Court, which will ultimately decide the fate of both Yoon and Han’s impeachments. With only six judges currently serving on the nine-member bench, the opposition hoped the additional nominees would increase the chances of upholding Yoon’s removal from office. A single dissenting vote in the Constitutional Court could overturn Yoon’s impeachment.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will now serve as acting president. Both Han and Yoon’s impeachments must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court within 180 days. Han stated he would respect the National Assembly’s decision and suspend his duties to avoid further chaos.
The political turmoil has severely impacted the South Korean economy, with the Korean won plummeting to its lowest level against the dollar in 16 years. Both the ruling and opposition parties blame each other for the ongoing crisis. Observers warn that Han’s impeachment will likely exacerbate the political instability gripping the nation. President Yoon, who remains under investigation and barred from leaving the country, has defied several summonses from authorities.
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