SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — South Korean lawmakers impeached acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday, deepening the nation’s political turmoil following the suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol over a controversial martial law declaration earlier this month.
The National Assembly voted 192-0 to remove Han, with opposition lawmakers accusing him of obstructing Yoon’s impeachment process and refusing to appoint three Constitutional Court judges critical for resolving the crisis. Han, also serving as prime minister, stated he “respects the parliament’s decision” and awaits the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the matter.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has stepped in as interim president, urging stability amid warnings of economic repercussions. The South Korean won fell to its lowest in nearly 16 years, trading at 1,480.2 per U.S. dollar.
The Constitutional Court has begun hearings on Yoon’s impeachment, while police investigate alleged abuses of power tied to the martial law declaration. The opposition asserts Han’s actions violated constitutional duties, while ruling PPP lawmakers protested the impeachment as a blow to the government’s stability.
This marks the first impeachment of an acting president in South Korea, underscoring the nation’s volatile political landscape.
