South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite protests by governing party lawmakers.
The impeachment further deepened the country’s political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment.
Duck-soo’s impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him.
The court is already reviewing whether to uphold Yoon’s earlier impeachment.
The impeachment of the country’s top two officials has worsened the political turmoil. It has deepened economic uncertainties and hurt its international image.
The single-chamber National Assembly passed Duck-soo’s impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote.
Lawmakers with the governing People Power Party boycotted the vote. They surrounded the podium where assembly Speaker, Woo Won Shik, was seated.
They were shouting that the vote was “invalid” and demanding Woo’s resignation. No violence or injuries were reported.
The PPP lawmakers protested after Shik called for a vote on Duck-soo’s impeachment motion.
Shik had earlier announced the passage of the motion that required a simple majority in the 300-member assembly. But the PPP is claiming a two-thirds majority.
The National Assembly can impeach most South Korean officials with a simple majority vote. But a president’s impeachment needs the support of two-thirds.
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There are no specific laws on the impeachment of an acting president.
In a statement, Duck-soo called his impeachment “regrettable”. He, however, said he respected the assembly’s decision. He added he would suspend his duties to “not add to additional confusion and uncertainty”.
Duck-soo said he will wait for “a swift, wise decision” by the Constitutional Court.
His powers were officially suspended after receiving copies of his impeachment document and copies submitted to the Constitutional Court.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Choi Sang-mok, took over.
Later on Friday, Sang-mok’s office said he instructed the military to boost its readiness to help prevent North Korea from miscalculating the situation and launching provocations.
He also told the foreign ministry to inform the U.S., Japan and other major partners that South Korea’s foreign policies remain unchanged.
Duck-soo, who was appointed prime minister by Yeol, became acting president after Yeol, a conservative, was impeached by the National Assembly about two weeks ago over his short-lived Dec. 3 imposition of martial law.
Duck-soo quickly clashed with the main liberal opposition Democratic Party as he pushed back against opposition-led efforts to fill three vacant seats on the Constitutional Court.
He established an independent investigation into Yeol’s martial law decree and legislated pro-farmer bills. (AP)
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