The National Assembly of South Korea made history on April 27, 2023, by voting to impeach Acting President Han Deok-soo, marking the first occasion this action has been taken against someone holding the acting presidential position.
The decision emerged from deepening political strife between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPRK) and the opposition People's Power Party, emphasizing the intense factional battles currently shaping the country’s political climate. The Democrats accused Han of failing to uphold his constitutional responsibilities, particularly his refusal to appoint three constitutional judges, which they deemed necessary for maintaining judicial integrity and separation of powers.
Park Chan-dae, the DPRK's Floor Leader, expressed serious concerns during the National Assembly session where the vote was held. He asserted, "The prime minister, who should appoint a constitutional judge under the constitution, said he would not fulfill his constitutional obligations and expressed his will to protect the constitution," framing the impeachment as a necessary measure allowing them to navigate through what he described as national crises. This framing aimed to galvanize public support by emphasizing the constitutional stakes involved.
Conversely, representatives from the People's Power Party rose to condemn the impeachment, painting it as nothing less than civil war politics detrimental to the nation's stability. Kwon Seong-dong, the party's Floor Leader, characterized the Democratic Party’s actions as "a plot to steal power," questioning whether the public would accept such divisive tactics. Kwon warned of economic repercussions, predicting a surge of the won-dollar exchange rate, potentially triggering another foreign economic crisis, saying, "If Han is impeached, we could face grave economic destabilization."
The atmosphere became even more charged as Daegu Mayor Hong Joon Pyo harshly criticized the Democrats by calling their actions “back alley politics.” He labeled the impeachment as the "height of gang politics" and dismissed it as nothing more than efforts to maintain control at the expense of democracy and governance.
Before the vote, Han expressed his willingness to halt the appointment of the constitutional judges until both ruling and opposition parties could reach consensus—his comments, which were interpreted by the Democrats as blatant obstructionism, directly led to their impeachment proposal. During the discussions, some lawmakers from the People's Power Party showed intentions to approve the impeachment motion, indicating potential fractures within the party, particularly over the need for effective judicial oversight.
The voting outcome revealed substantial division within the National Assembly, reinforcing existing tensions. The impeachment was passed with 192 votes supporting it out of the 300-member legislature. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik officially announced the need for "financial majority" for the impeachment motion, which incited protests from People's Power members. Differences arose over whether the motion should require 200 votes, akin to presidential impeachment, or just over half, which would align with the prime minister's standard.
Moving forward, the impeachment of Han will lead to Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok stepping up as acting president, inevitably raising alarms about the functioning of the government. Choi now carries the immense responsibility of overseeing both economic policy and state affairs during an unpredictable period marked by political unrest.
Despite the intense political matters at play, debates are likely to continue around the legitimacy of Han's impeachment. The People's Power Party hinted at potential legal challenges, speculating the Constitutional Court may need to clarify whether the threshold for impeachment should lean more toward the standard set for the presidency or the prime minister.
With public sentiment teetering between support and resistance around these political maneuvers, this impeachment case serves as more than just internal political strife; it is symbolic of the broader challenges facing South Korea's democracy amid increasing partisan divides. Watchers note the ramifications this could have for stability and governance, with the DPRK hinting at pursuing additional impeachments within the State Council should this political battle not swing their way.
Looking on, citizens and international observers are questioning the long-term stability of South Korea’s governance, especially as political wrangling continues to overshadow pressing economic and social issues facing the nation.
