Less than two weeks after the South Korean Parliament stripped President Yoon Suk Yeol of his power over his short-lived martial law, the country’s lawmakers on Friday voted to impeach prime minister and acting president Han Duck-soo, plunging the nation into a political crisis.
A motion to impeach Han passed unanimously in a 192-0 vote, marking the first time an acting president was impeached by parliament, reported South Korean Yonhap news agency.
According to CNN, Han said in a statement that he respected the decision and “will suspend my duties under relevant laws to avoid further confusion and uncertainty”.
According to reports, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now the acting President.
It was assumed that Han Duck-soo would guide South Korea out of the political crisis after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over his attempt to impose martial law, which lasted for a short time, on December 3, a step that drove the country towards chaos.
Opposition leaders criticised Han Duck-soo and argued that he was refusing demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment process.
At the time of voting on Friday, chaotic scenes prevailed in the Parliament.
Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party reportedly protested after the National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes would be needed to pass the impeachment bill.
The ruling party members chanted ‘abuse of power’ and demanded the Speaker to step down.
Most of them boycotted the vote.
On December 3, Yoon surprised the country by declaring martial law, and cited the need to protect South Korea from “anti-state” forces as the reason behind his decision.
He later reversed the order after 190 MPs voted it down.
