South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday, suspending his powers and duties until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him. The move comes as the country’s political crisis deepens following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s introduction of martial law and subsequent impeachment.
The assembly passed the impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote, despite protests from the governing People Power Party, which boycotted the vote and surrounded the podium, shouting that it was “invalid” and demanding the speaker’s resignation. Han, who was appointed prime minister by Yoon, called the impeachment “regrettable” but said he would respect the assembly’s decision.
Han’s powers were suspended after the impeachment, and the deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, took over. Choi instructed the military to boost its readiness to prevent North Korea from miscalculating and launching provocations, and informed the U.S., Japan, and other major partners that South Korea’s foreign policies remain unchanged.
The move has further worsened the country’s political turmoil, deepened economic uncertainties, and hurt its international image. The Constitutional Court is already reviewing whether to uphold Yoon’s earlier impeachment, and the ongoing power struggle has left the country in a state of uncertainty.
