South Korea's political climate has been thrust deepening turmoil after the main opposition party, the Democratic Party, filed for the impeachment of acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. This motion, submitted on December 26, arises amid widespread discord following President Yoon Suk Yeol's suspension from office earlier this month.
The Democratic Party submitted the impeachment motion as Han Duck-soo, acting as the country's leader, consistently refused to appoint three new judges to the Constitutional Court—a move the party argues hampers the judicial review of Yoon's rebellion charges related to the controversial martial law declaration made on December 3.
On Thursday, Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, asserted, “He lacks both the qualifications to serve as the acting leader and the will to uphold the Constitution.” This criticism stems from Han's insistence on awaiting bipartisan agreement before proceeding with judicial appointments, which many view as obstructive. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik also urged Han to appoint the judges without delay, stating his calls for bipartisan consent infringe upon the assembly's right to select justices.
The political tension is palpable, with Han Duck-soo holding firm to his stance of not making appointments until the ruling People Power Party and the opposition reach some form of consensus. This reluctance has sparked claims of partisanship, deepening the rift between the two parties. “It has become clear... he is neither qualified nor willing to defend the constitution,” added Park Chan-dae.
Given the current makeup of the National Assembly, where the Democratic Party controls 170 of the 300 seats, the motion's passage seems likely. They require at least 151 votes for the impeachment to succeed. If so, this will mark the first time democratic South Korea has impeached an acting president.
Han's previous political actions have drawn scrutiny, particularly his vetoes on opposition-led bills demanding independent investigations concerning Yoon’s martial law attempt and allegations against his wife, Kim Keon Hee. Instead of facilitating governance during this interim period, Han's leadership has exacerbated the existing political deadlock.
“A consensus between the ruling and opposition parties must first be reached,” Han stated, attempting to justify his refusal to act. This comment reflects the broader challenges facing South Korean governance during this period of instability.
If the motion proceeds as planned on December 27, the session will pose significant legal ambiguities. Notably, the standard for impeaching presidents usually calls for two-thirds support from the assembly, whereas officials can typically be impeached with just a simple majority. This has led to fierce debate on how to apply these standards to Han Duck-soo as acting president.
Further complicate the matter, the Constitutional Court has yet to fill the three vacant justice positions—appointments Han Duck-soo has stalled. Without these appointments, the court can only render judgments with the existing justices, which precludes the capacity to achieve unanimous decisions required for removal or reinstatement of Yoon.
While Han’s administration prefers restraint, opposition party members argue he has effectively revealed himself as “an acting insurrectionist, not acting president,” to cite Park Chan-dae directly. This statement emphasizes the Democratic Party's position of viewing Han’s actions as not merely procedural, but as complicity with the former president.
On the other hand, the People Power Party contends the opposition's pressure interferes with Han's legitimate exercise of authority, asserting the move is both regrettable and unjust. They argue his current role demands careful handling of sensitive political dynamics, especially as South Korea faces potential financial market repercussions from this political paralysis.
With Han's impeachment vote looming, the stakes couldn't be higher. Should he be ousted, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok would take over, potentially leading to yet more instability. The political machinery of South Korea is under scrutiny, and citizens remain on edge as they await the fallout of the impeachment vote.
Overall, this turbulent situation encapsulates the challenges of modern governance grappling with rapid shifts of power, the imperatives of constitutional balance, and the urgent calls from the electorate for accountable leadership. It remains to be seen if the National Assembly can navigate these choppy waters effectively or if South Korea's democracy will be pushed to its limits once again.
