South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly passed the motion to impeach Han Duck-soo for refusing to appoint three new judges to the Constitutional Court.
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South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach interim president Han Duck-soo, despite vehement protests from representatives of the ruling party.
This dismissal comes less than two weeks after that of the president Yoon Suk Yeolfallen for his failed imposition of martial law on December 3.
The dismissal of Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister who held the interim presidency, means thathe will not be able to exercise his powers until the Constitutional Court decides to dismiss or reinstate him in his functions.
The High Court has yet to determine whether it upholds the dismissal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who refused to appear at the first hearing of his trial before the Court.
It is the first time in South Korean history that the president and prime minister – the two most important people in the state – are simultaneously suspended from their functions.
This situation aggravates the political turmoil and accentuates economic uncertainty in the country. According to South Korean media, the Korean won weakened to levels not seen in 15 years, with the U.S. dollar trading for 1,464.8 won on Thursday.
Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote and gathered around the podium where the speaker of the assembly, Woo Won Shik, was, shouting that the vote was “the disabled” and calling for Mr. Woo’s resignation. No violence or damage was reported.
The impeachment motion against Han Duck-soo was approved in the plenary session by 192 votes out of the 300 seats in the Assembly.
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