South Korea parliament impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday. This deepened the nation’s political crisis. It followed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s suspension after declaring martial law earlier this month.
Han became acting president after Yoon’s impeachment on December 14. Yoon faced impeachment for imposing martial law on December 3. The decision has plunged South Korea into political uncertainty. Finance Minister Choi Sangmok now serves as acting president. The Constitutional Court is reviewing the impeachment cases of both Yoon and Han. Choi held a National Security Council meeting and consulted key officials. He promised to stabilize the nation amid the turmoil.
The crisis has shaken Asia’s fourth-largest economy. Allies in the U.S. and Europe also voiced concerns over the instability. Choi warned parliament against impeaching Han, citing economic risks. Despite his plea, the Korean won fell by 0.5%. It hit its lowest value in 15 years. Analysts fear the situation could trigger economic challenges like the 1990s financial crisis.
Parliament impeached Han over his refusal to appoint three Constitutional Court justices. Han also argued it exceeded his acting role. After the vote passed with 192 approvals, Han suspended his duties. He promised to comply with the law and await the court’s decision.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. They accused parliament of overreach. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung supported the impeachment. He accused Han of undermining democratic principles. Speaker Woo Won-shik stated that a simple majority was enough for the impeachment. This added to the growing political tensions in the country.
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