In brief
On Friday, South Korea’s National Assembly witnessed a significant political upheaval as lawmakers voted to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, just weeks after they did the same to President Yoon Suk Yeol. A total of 192 politicians supported the impeachment, easily exceeding the 151 votes required to succeed. Han took office in December following Yoon’s impeachment, which stemmed from an attempted imposition of martial law.
Opposition leaders argued that Han had failed to fulfill demands to progress Yoon's impeachment proceedings, prompting the motion after he blocked the appointment of three judges meant to oversee the case against Yoon. The parliament session erupted in chaos as ruling party lawmakers protested the vote before boycotting the process. The ruling People Power Party (PPP) claimed the decision was an abuse of power, in a direct challenge to the parliamentary session's integrity.Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is poised to step in as the acting president. The impeachment of Han, like that of Yoon, requires confirmation from Korea’s Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to deliver its verdict. The current six-member court bench needs at least six votes to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, leaving little room for error in this contentious situation.The political instability is not only affecting governance but also economic conditions, as the Korean won has fallen to its lowest level against the dollar since the 2007 financial crisis, highlighting the dual impact of political turmoil on both governance and economic stability.As South Korea moves forward from this unprecedented political impasse, the efficacy of its democratic institutions and the resilience of its economy face significant tests, underscoring a need for more viable solutions that cater to all sections of its polity.
