South Korea’s Parliament Majority Votes to Impeach Acting President Han

Seoul: South Korea’s Parliament Votes to Impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo
On Friday, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo over a brief martial law declaration, plunging the country further into political turmoil. The impeachment followed the suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had declared martial law on December 3.
Support and Opposition
The impeachment motion, led by opposition parties, passed with 192 votes out of 300, amidst protests from members of the ruling People Power Party, who claimed the vote was invalid. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung declared that the move was necessary to “root out insurrection forces” and restore stability.
Han’s Response
Following the vote, Han announced he would step down to avoid further chaos and await the Constitutional Court’s ruling on his impeachment.
Next Steps
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will assume the acting presidency as per legal provisions. Choi had previously urged parliament to withdraw the impeachment motion, warning of serious economic damage. The Constitutional Court now has 180 days to decide whether to reinstate Yoon or remove him permanently from office.