Impeachment of acting President Han Duck-Soo has escalated South Korea’s political turmoil, as the nation faces a period of uncertainty. This move came in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, with both events causing deep rifts in the country’s governance. On Friday, South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Han, who has served as acting president since December 14, after Yoon was removed from office for his declaration of martial law on December 3.
The decision marked a dramatic turn for a country that had long prided itself on its democratic resilience. The vote of 192 out of 300 members in favour of Han’s impeachment was led by opposition parties, despite fierce opposition from members of the ruling People Power Party.
Impeachment of Acting President Han Duck-Soo Sparks Political Unrest
The parliamentary vote to impeach Han Duck-Soo has further complicated South Korea’s already fragile political landscape. It came after the declaration of martial law by President Yoon, which led to his impeachment on December 14. In response to the impeachment motion, members of the ruling party, who supported Han, gathered around the speaker’s podium, arguing that the vote was invalid and amounted to “tyranny.” These scenes of disruption underscored the intensity of the political crisis unfolding in the country.
This political instability has not only stirred unrest within the parliament but has also brought the nation to the edge of an economic and constitutional crisis. The growing political polarization has ignited fierce debates over the legitimacy of both Yoon’s impeachment and Han’s role as acting president. The parliamentary motion to remove Han was spearheaded by the opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly.
Ruling Party Boycotts Vote and Condemns Impeachment Process
The ruling People Power Party’s boycott of the impeachment vote revealed the deep divisions within the government. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, from the Democratic Party, argued that Han’s role in the military’s decision to implement martial law was an act of insurrection that endangered South Korea’s democratic stability. Lee’s call to “root out all insurrection forces” resonated with many citizens who viewed the martial law declaration as an overreach by the president. Lee’s fiery rhetoric reflected the growing public outcry over Yoon’s actions and the widespread support for his removal.
Despite the ruling party’s efforts to halt the impeachment, the opposition’s victory in the parliamentary vote was seen as a sign of the country’s shifting political mood. South Koreans, who were outraged by the martial law declaration, had voiced their support for the impeachment of the president and now the acting president, as seen in opinion polls following Yoon’s martial law attempt. This sentiment fueled the opposition’s determination to remove Han, who was accused of failing to make necessary appointments to the Constitutional Court, further deepening the crisis.
Finance Minister Choi Warns Impeachment Would Harm Economy
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is set to assume the acting presidency after Han’s impeachment, warned that removing Han could have disastrous consequences for South Korea’s economy. Choi urged parliament to reconsider the move, stating that the impeachment would send shockwaves through financial markets and further damage the country’s fragile economy. His concerns were mirrored by the rapid decline in the value of the South Korean won, which fell to its lowest level since March 2009, weakening to 1,475.4 per dollar.
The economic impact of the impeachment was not lost on investors, who had been jittery in the face of the ongoing political upheaval. The stock market had already shown signs of volatility, and the currency’s decline was an early indicator of the instability that could follow. Choi’s plea to withdraw the impeachment vote reflected the broader concern among South Korea’s business and financial sectors, who feared that further political chaos could erode investor confidence and slow economic recovery.
Constitutional Court to Review Impeachment Case Against Yoon
In parallel with the impeachment of Han, the Constitutional Court is moving quickly to review the impeachment case against President Yoon. The court has been tasked with deciding whether Yoon’s martial law declaration was justifiable or whether it constituted an abuse of power that warranted his removal from office. The court has 180 days to reach a verdict, and its decision could have far-reaching consequences for the political future of South Korea.
The Constitutional Court’s upcoming ruling will not only determine the fate of Yoon but also shape the future of the country’s political structure. If the court upholds Yoon’s impeachment, the country would face a fresh presidential election within 60 days, creating additional uncertainty. This scenario would exacerbate the political instability, potentially leading to more protests, public unrest, and a crisis of governance.
South Korea’s Uncertain Political Future
As the impeachment of Han Duck-Soo unfolds, South Korea stands at a crossroads. The nation’s once-stable democracy is now grappling with political chaos, economic instability, and the potential for further institutional breakdowns. With Han’s removal, the political vacuum left by Yoon’s impeachment is likely to be filled by Finance Minister Choi, who will take on the role of acting president in the interim.
This transition, however, does little to quell the political turmoil sweeping through the country. As opposition parties push forward with their agenda to oust Han and bring about significant political reforms, the nation is left to ponder its next steps. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether South Korea can return to a path of stability or if the current crisis will deepen further, dragging the country into a prolonged period of unrest. The impeachment of Han Duck-Soo marks just the latest chapter in a growing saga of political upheaval, with no clear resolution in sight.