South Korea Impeaches Acting President Han Duck-soo, 2 Weeks After President Yoon Was Impeached

Do you know that one of the reasons why South Korea President Yoon called for the martial law is that he thinks the opposition in the National Assembly is impeaching (i.e. removing officials from office) too many people?

Well, he himself has been impeached, and the person who took over him has also just been impeached.

South Korea’s National Assembly has just impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo on 27 December 2024.

Han, who also served as prime minister, took on the acting presidency on 14 December following Yoon’s ouster.

If you’re still confused over the martial law saga, watch this to the end first:

So, what happened?

South Korea Impeaches Acting President Han Duck-soo, 2 Weeks After President Yoon Was Impeached

The Democratic Party (DP), which controls the opposition and also the National Assembly, initiated the impeachment of Han.

They accused him of deliberately obstructing justice by refusing to appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court.

This (final) step was deemed crucial for ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon.

With only six justices currently on the nine-member court, removing Yoon requires unanimous support from all six. If the bench remains incomplete, a single dissenting vote could keep Yoon in power.

In addition, Han declined to review two bills sponsored by the opposition. These bills sought investigations into Yoon’s martial law declaration and corruption allegations involving First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

DP leader Park Chan Dae accused Han of worsening the country’s political instability, claiming he was unfit to uphold the Constitution.

Han’s impeachment means that it’s South Korea’s third leadership change in less than a month.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has stepped in as acting president.

Choi’s top priority is managing potential security risks from North Korea during this politically unstable period. He has urged the military to stay on high alert, stressing the importance of national security as the government grapples with internal upheaval.

The Constitutional Court now has up to 180 days to decide on the impeachment cases against both Yoon and Han. If the court upholds the decisions, South Korea could face early presidential elections, potentially transforming its political landscape.

Political Instability Hits Economy and Public Confidence

But it’s not just politics.

South Korea’s political unrest has taken a toll on its economy. The won has plunged to its lowest value against the US dollar since 2009.

So if you’re heading to South Korea soon, now might be the best time to buy its currency first lah.