South Korea in political turmoil as Acting President Han Duck-soo is impeached

The vote saw 192 lawmakers in favor, surpassing the required 151 votes for the impeachment to succeed.

Han Duck-soo, who assumed the role of acting president after Yoon's impeachment over a failed martial law imposition on December 3, was accused by opposition members of Parliament (MPs) of obstructing the process to complete Yoon's impeachment. This led to significant unrest in the National Assembly, where the session was marked by protests from the ruling People Power Party (PPP). PPP lawmakers protested vehemently against the impeachment vote, chanting slogans like "invalid!" and "abuse of power!", and many boycotted the vote itself after Speaker Woo Won-shik declared that only 151 votes were needed, in contrast to the 200 required for Yoon's case.

The immediate consequence of this vote is that Han will be suspended from his duties once officially notified by parliament. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is poised to step in as the new acting president. Like Yoon, Han's impeachment now awaits confirmation from the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to decide if the impeachment should stand.

In response to his impeachment, Han stated, "I respect the decision of the National Assembly," and confirmed he would wait for the Constitutional Court's ruling while suspending his duties to avoid further turmoil.

The backdrop to this political upheaval began with President Yoon's unexpected declaration of martial law on December 3, which he claimed was necessary to safeguard the country from "anti-state" forces. This decision was quickly overturned by a parliament vote, with MPs physically overcoming security measures to cast their votes. Yoon later issued an apology but maintained his action was aimed at protecting democracy.

Following the martial law incident, Yoon and his administration have faced intense scrutiny and legal challenges. Several top officials have been arrested and charged with insurrection, while Yoon himself is under an impeachment trial, resisting cooperation with investigators despite being barred from leaving the country.

The political instability has had immediate economic repercussions, with the Korean won hitting its lowest level against the dollar since the 2008 global financial crisis. Both political factions have pointed fingers at each other for the economic downturn.

The removal of Han Duck-soo is likely to deepen South Korea's political gridlock, adding to the uncertainty and chaos already gripping the nation. As South Korea navigates through this turbulent phase, all eyes are now on the Constitutional Court's forthcoming decisions, which will shape the country's political landscape in the coming months. (ILKHA)