South Korea’s Opposition Threatens to Impeach Acting President Amid Political Turmoil
South Korea’s political landscape is facing further instability as the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) considers impeaching acting President Han Duck-soo, Al Jazeera reports.
The move comes amid a deepening political crisis following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and escalating tensions between the ruling and opposition parties.
The DP initially planned to submit an impeachment bill against Han on Tuesday, but has since postponed the decision until Thursday, citing a need to consider public sentiment. This delay follows a series of dramatic events, including the impeachment of President Yoon on December 14, who is now undergoing review by the Constitutional Court.
The opposition’s primary demand is that Han sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor, Yoon Suk-yeol. The DP is calling for probes into Yoon’s controversial attempt to impose martial law on December 3, as well as allegations of corruption against his wife. Yoon’s martial law declaration, which he partially blamed on the opposition’s tendency to impeach officials, was ultimately overruled by lawmakers.
Prime Minister Han took over as acting president after Yoon’s impeachment. The DP has accused Han of obstructing justice by failing to put the special investigation bills on the cabinet agenda and instead urging negotiations with the ruling party. DP floor leader Park Chan-dae stated that there was “no room for negotiations” regarding the Yoon investigation and interpreted Han’s actions as “his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings.
If the DP decides to proceed with impeachment, the bill must be voted on in parliament within 24-72 hours. If passed, it would trigger further political uncertainty, with the finance minister, who is also the deputy prime minister, next in line to take over.
Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Seoul, explained that the impeachment bill “could be voted upon as early as Friday or Saturday” and that such action “threatens to cause further instability and a political vacuum.”
The DP, holding a majority in the 300-member parliament, believes they require a simple majority to impeach Han, while the ruling People Power Party (PPP) argues that a two-thirds majority is necessary since Han is currently serving as acting president.
Yoon is currently under investigation by a joint team consisting of police, the defense ministry, and anticorruption investigators. Several of his former associates, including his defense minister, police chief, and senior military commanders, have already been arrested for their roles in the deployment of troops and police to the National Assembly before the martial law decree was overturned. Yoon has twice refused to comply with summons for questioning by investigators.
The Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether to remove Yoon permanently or restore his powers. Should he be removed, a national election to choose his successor would be required within two months.
