South Korea’s Parliament Votes to Impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo
Background
Acting President Han Duck-soo has been in office since President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14, 2022, over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, 2022. As a result, Han’s presidential powers were suspended.
The Impeachment Vote
On Friday, a majority of South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. The vote was 192-0, with 108 lawmakers abstaining. This means that a simple majority was required to impeach Han, as parliament speaker Woo Won-shik, who is from the Democratic Party (DP), had previously stated.
The Reason for Impeachment
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which controls parliament, decided to impeach Han after he did not immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court. The DP-controlled parliament had backed three nominees on Thursday, but Han said he would not formally appoint them unless there was bipartisan agreement on the appointments.
Disagreement Over Impeachment Threshold
There has been disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties, as well as some constitutional scholars, over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds vote is needed to impeach the acting president. However, parliament speaker Woo Won-shik has maintained that only a simple majority is required.
Consequences of Impeachment
After Han’s impeachment, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next in line to assume the acting presidency, according to South Korean law. This means that Choi will take over as acting president until a new president is elected or until the impeachment is overturned.
Conclusion
The impeachment of Acting President Han Duck-soo marks a significant development in South Korean politics. The consequences of this decision will be closely watched, as the country navigates a period of political uncertainty.
FAQs
Q: Why was Acting President Han Duck-soo impeached?
A: Han was impeached because he did not immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court.
Q: What is the next step after Han’s impeachment?
A: Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next in line to assume the acting presidency, according to South Korean law.
Q: How many lawmakers voted to impeach Han?
A: 192 lawmakers voted to impeach Han out of the 300-member parliament.
Q: What is the disagreement over the impeachment threshold?
A: There is disagreement between the ruling and opposition parties, as well as some constitutional scholars, over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds vote is needed to impeach the acting president.