Acting South Korean President Han Duck-soo Impeached Because He Did Not Immediately Appoint Constitutional Justices

Han Duck-soo. (Wikimedia Commons/IAEA Imagebank)

JAKARTA - The South Korean parliament with the majority of votes impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo who is also the country's prime minister, an unprecedented political move amid the ongoing political crisis.

Han's dismissal came less than two weeks after he held a temporary presidential term following President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment by the Assembly on December 14 due to the implementation of a failed military emergency on December 3.

This is the first time in the history of Ginseng Country, both president and prime minister two top figures in the government hierarchy have been suspended simultaneously from their duties.

The impeachment proposal against Han, submitted by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday, was approved in a plenary session with 192 of the 300 seats of the Assembly voting in favor, quoted from The Korea Times Dec. 27.

Although the vote was unanimous, it appears the vote was blocked by opposition lawmakers, as the broader opposition bloc holds all 192 seats, while the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) boycotts the vote.

PPP, which controls the remaining 108 seats, did not participate in the vote, protested the DPR chairman's decision regarding the requirements for a quorum of 151 votes. The competing parties had disagreements over the threshold for votes needed for the impeachment of the current president.

Based on the Constitution, the ratification of the proposal for impeachment of the prime minister requires the majority of the 300 members of the DPR, or 151 votes. However, the presidential impeachment requires approval of at least two-thirds of the total members of the DPR, or 200 votes in favor.

The DPK argues that Han, who technically serves as prime minister, meets the majority voting requirements. Meanwhile, PPP believes Han should be treated as president.

DPR Chairman Woo Won-sik has determined that Han's impeachment requires 151 votes.

"This is a proposal for impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. In accordance with Article 65 of Klausul 2 of the Constitution, this proposal will be approved by the majority of members. Despite differences in views on the quorum, the main point of this impeachment proposal is the prime minister, who temporarily carries out presidential power," said Woo before the vote.

PPP members protested loudly, chanting slogans such as "The Speaker of the House of Representatives must resign," and "dismantling power." They left the courtroom when the vote count began.

After the impeachment motion was approved, the Constitutional Court had 180 days to decide whether to assert Han's impeachment or not.

Meanwhile, Han's duties will be suspended, and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as minister of economy and finance, will take over the interim leadership.

"I respect the decision of the National Assembly, and to prevent further confusion and uncertainty, my duties will be suspended in accordance with the relevant law, while I will wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court to be swift and wise," Han said in a statement shortly after his impeachment motion was approved.

It is known that the DPK filed a impeachment motion on Thursday, shortly after Han postponed the appointment of three candidates for judges at the Constitutional Court who had obtained parliamentary approval.

The opposition itself has pushed for the rapid appointment of judges to fill in three vacancies from nine members of the Constitutional Court, as a complete panel of judges that will increase the possibility of ratifying President Yoon's impeachment.

PPP has denied Han, as acting president, has no authority to appoint judges until President Yoon is officially impeached.

In a televised briefing on Thursday, Han said he would not approve the appointment of constitutional judges until the ruling bloc and opposition reach an agreement on the matter.

The DPK also argues that the prime minister deserves to be impeached for additional reasons, including its veto against a draft special investigation law targeting the presidential pair, his alleged involvement in the implementation of the military emergency that Yoon failed, and his efforts earlier this month to make arrangements for the division of power with the then PPP leader, Han Dong-hoon. The party claims that this action has no legal basis.

Meanwhile, although Prime Minister Choi will take the war as the president's official, it is not yet clear whether the seasoned economist will cooperate with opposition parties in appointing judges to the Constitutional Court.

It is also unclear how active he will be in power in this unprecedented situation, where leadership has been left to the number three in the government hierarchy.

Prior to the parliament's vote on Han's impeachment, Choi had asked the DPK to reconsider its steps, expressing concern that overthrowing the president's acting would be a major blow to the country's economy.

"The absence of a control tower for state affairs will dealt a major blow to the credibility, security, economy, and sustainability of the Korean government, as has been proven in the sharp weakening of won against the dollar," Choi told a news conference.