Politics South Korea: Interim President Han also removed from office
South Korea's state crisis is deepening: while the Constitutional Court is reviewing the impeachment of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, parliament has now also relieved interim President Han Duck Soo of his duties. This is the first time in the history of the East Asian country that the interim president has also been removed from office.
27.12.2024, 12:44
SDA
The motion tabled by the opposition was voted for by 192 of the 300 MPs - significantly more than the simple majority required. According to a report by the Yonhap news agency, Han said that he accepted the decision and would await a review by the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court must confirm or revoke the impeachment in the coming weeks.
Han should have led the country out of the recent political turmoil. However, the opposition accuses him of complicating Yoon's impeachment proceedings at the Constitutional Court, which began on Friday. Han refused to fill the three vacant judgeships of the court, which currently only has six members. As six votes are required to confirm Yoon's impeachment, one veto vote would be enough to declare the impeachment invalid.
Another interim solution
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang Mok will now temporarily take over the affairs of state. In a statement, he promised that the government would do its best to "overcome the chaos in government affairs". He also wanted to ensure that the country's security was not damaged.
Yoon absent from court hearing
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court in Seoul began its review of the impeachment proceedings against Yoon. Both his representatives and those of the National Assembly presented their respective arguments and named possible witnesses. Yoon did not appear in person at the hearing.
Over the next few weeks and possibly months, the court will examine whether Yoon's impeachment, as decided by the National Assembly, was unconstitutional or in accordance with the constitution.
If the judges approve the impeachment, new elections would have to be called within 60 days at the latest. If the court rules that the impeachment was irregular, Yoon would return to the presidency.
Yoon had unexpectedly imposed martial law at the beginning of December in the midst of a budget dispute with the opposition. After massive resistance, he lifted it again hours later. The opposition then submitted an impeachment motion to the National Assembly, which finally received the required two-thirds majority on December 14 after a failed first attempt.
Yoon recently defended his decision with the protection of the nation. His political opponents were "anti-state forces" that were paralyzing the government's work and disrupting the country's constitutional order.
The national crisis is already having an economic impact. Not only has the South Korean business climate fallen to its worst level since the coronavirus pandemic. The won exchange rate also fell to its lowest level since 2009.
