South Korea’s opposition lawmakers have filed a motion to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has been serving as the acting president since the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month.
The impeachment motion against Han Duck-soo is coming on the heels of his refusal to appoint three Constitutional Court judges nominated by the opposition Democratic Party (DP). This refusal was seen as a deliberate attempt to obstruct the judicial review of President Yoon’s impeachment, further complicating the tensions between the ruling and opposition parties.
The accusations against Han are serious and they include: the DP labelling him an “acting insurrectionist,” and accusing him of aiding Yoon’s alleged attempt to declare martial law on December 3rd. Han’s decisions so far as the acting president, including his vetoing of opposition-led bills and delaying crucial appointments, were all seen as efforts to extend the political crisis and protect Yoon’s presidency.
This political strife has significant implications for South Korea. The ongoing turmoil has already led to protests and unrest, with the public growing increasingly disappointed with their leaders. There’s also economic repercussions to be considered, as political instability often leads to market volatility and investor uncertainty.
The international community (allies and partners) closely monitoring the situation in South Korea’s have expressed concern about the potential impact on regional stability and economic partnerships.
