In a surprising turn of events, South Korea’s National Assembly has voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. This vote, which passed with 192 votes in favor and no one against, has thrown the country into confusion. The governing party, called the People Power Party (PPP), did not participate in the vote and argued that a two-thirds majority was needed, but the Speaker of the Assembly insisted a simple majority was enough.
As a result of the impeachment, Han Duck-soo will not be able to act as president. His duties will now fall to Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok until the Constitutional Court decides if Han should be dismissed or reinstated. The same court is also looking into the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol—this all started after Yoon declared martial law on December 3, which stirred up a lot of disagreement in the country.
The impeachment of both leaders shows just how divided South Korean politics have become. The main issue is the Democratic Party’s wish to fill three empty seats on the Constitutional Court, which could change the power balance and lead to Yoon’s removal. Acting President Han hasn’t agreed to these appointments without support from the other party, making things even tenser.
This political mess is happening alongside investigations into whether Yoon abused his power during the martial law period. Several important military leaders, including the defense minister and police chief, have already been arrested for sending troops to the National Assembly during the crisis.
The dual impeachments of both Yoon and Han present serious problems for South Korea, not only politically but also economically. The Democratic Party is still working to fill the Constitutional Court seats, which is crucial for the future of the country during this uncertain time.
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