South Korea Impeaches Their Acting President

South Korea’s legislature voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday after he declined to make judicial appointments needed to advance the impeachment of his predecessor.

This extends the political upheaval and chaos in South Korea that began when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law earlier this month. The Korean legislature quickly voted Yoon’s measure down, and suspended his Presidential duties shortly thereafter.

Han became the South Korea’s interim President less than 2 weeks ago, following Yoon’s impeachment. Han sought to reassure allies and stabilize things in the country, but his impeachment throws the country into even more chaos.

A total of 192 Korean lawmakers voted to impeach Han, more than the 151 votes needed in the 300-member legislature. Chaotic scenes unfolded in parliament during the vote, as lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party pumped their fists and chanted “Abuse of power” after National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik declared only a simple majority would be needed to approve the impeachment motion against Han.

A simple majority is the typical threshold needed to oust a sitting prime minister, while a two-thirds majority is needed to impeach a president. Following parliament’s vote to impeach Han, the finance minister and deputy prime minister, Choi Sang-mok, is now acting president.

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic party filed the impeachment motion on Thursday after Han refused to fill three vacant seats in the Constitutional Court, which is set to adjudicate Yoon’s impeachment trial.

Han on Friday defended his choice not to appoint new justices, urging the ruling and opposition parties to first reach an agreement before appointments can be made. “I desperately feel how surprised and disappointed the people have been through this emergency martial law,” Han said, adding that “the process is as important as filling the constitutional judge positions.”

Will new acting President of South Korea Choi Sang-mok be able to restore order and stability in South Korea? Only time will tell.