South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo Impeached by National Assembly

South Korea’s National Assembly has impeached Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, intensifying the nation’s political crisis. The impeachment motion, passed unanimously with 192 votes in favor and none against, was announced by Speaker Woo Won-shik on Friday.

Speaker Woo stated that Han actively participated in insurrection following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law earlier this month. Han’s refusal to appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court, a move seen as obstructing the court’s ability to rule on President Yoon’s impeachment, was a significant factor leading to his own impeachment.

With Han’s suspension, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to assume the role of acting president. This development adds to the political turmoil in South Korea, which has already impacted the nation’s economy, causing the South Korean won to fall to its lowest level against the dollar since 2009.

The Constitutional Court, currently operating with only six justices due to the vacancies Han declined to fill, is now tasked with reviewing both President Yoon’s and Acting President Han’s impeachments. A minimum of seven justices is required for deliberation, complicating the path forward in resolving the nation’s leadership crisis.