South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo

South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president Han Duck-soo, deepening the country’s political turmoil just two weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol was similarly impeached.

The impeachment motion against Han passed with 192 votes, surpassing the 151 required. Han had stepped into the role following Yoon’s impeachment on December 3, after Yoon’s controversial attempt to impose martial law.

Opposition lawmakers accused Han of obstructing efforts to finalize Yoon’s impeachment process. Key among their grievances was Han’s decision to block the appointment of three parliamentary-nominated judges intended to oversee Yoon’s case. With the Constitutional Court currently comprising only six judges instead of the usual nine, opposition parties hoped the additional judges would increase the likelihood of upholding Yoon’s impeachment.

For Yoon’s impeachment to stand, at least six of the court’s judges must support it. However, the current six-member bench means a single dissenting vote could prevent his removal.

Han’s impeachment marks the first time an acting president has been impeached since South Korea’s transition to democracy. Upon notification from parliament, Han will be officially suspended from his duties. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to step in as acting president.

As with Yoon, Han’s impeachment must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to make a ruling. Han expressed his respect for the assembly’s decision, stating, “I will wait for the Constitutional Court’s decision” and promising to step back from his duties to avoid exacerbating the nation’s political uncertainty.