South Korea's acting president, Han Duck-soo, is facing a potential impeachment vote on Friday, marking another chapter in the political turmoil gripping the nation. Opposition lawmakers have filed the motion, signaling their growing dissatisfaction with his leadership just weeks after he assumed the role.
Han was appointed as acting president earlier this month after the National Assembly impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14. The impeachment followed Yoon’s declaration of military rule, the first such action in 45 years. Now, Han himself is under fire, with the opposition accusing him of failing to act in the country’s best interests.
The current crisis deepened on Thursday when Han refused to appoint three judges to fill vacant positions in South Korea’s Constitutional Court. The court is set to determine whether President Yoon should be reinstated or permanently removed. Han’s refusal to make the appointments has sparked widespread controversy, as it delays the court's ability to render a decisive judgment in Yoon's impeachment trial, which is scheduled to begin on Friday.
The political instability has taken a toll on South Korea’s economy, with both business and consumer confidence dropping. The national currency, the won, has also seen a sharp decline. The opposition has been pushing Han to sign off on the appointments, which they argue are essential for the court's functioning. Meanwhile, Yoon’s political party argues that such appointments can only be made by an elected president. This disagreement centers around the upcoming ruling on Yoon’s impeachment, as six out of the nine Constitutional Court justices must vote in favor of removal for it to succeed. Currently, the court has only six justices, with three positions left unfilled, potentially leaving room for the impeachment to be overturned by a single dissenting vote.
In response, Han said in a televised address that he would delay the appointments until the rival parties could reach an agreement on whether he had the authority to make them as acting president. He explained that an acting president should avoid exercising significant presidential powers, including appointments to constitutional bodies.
Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, sharply criticized Han, accusing him of supporting an insurrection. The opposition has linked Han’s actions to President Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law on December 3, which included sending troops to block lawmakers from voting on the martial law and detaining opponents.
The opposition has also raised concerns about Han’s position, debating whether a two-thirds majority vote or a simple majority vote should be required for his impeachment. The ruling party insists that a two-thirds majority is necessary, given Han’s status as acting president. However, the opposition argues that a majority vote is sufficient, citing the Constitution. The decision on the required vote threshold will ultimately be made by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, a member of the Democratic Party.
Legal experts are weighing in on the issue, with Professor Cha Jina from Korea University in Seoul suggesting that Han should face impeachment based on a majority vote, as the role of acting president does not grant full presidential powers. She also highlighted that this is the first time in South Korean history that an acting president has been subjected to an impeachment vote.
The ongoing political uncertainty continues to cloud the future of South Korea’s leadership, leaving the country in a state of instability.