South Korea's National Assembly made history on December 27, 2024, with the unanimous impeachment of acting President Han Duck-soo. This unprecedented event marked the first time the assembly moved to impeach someone serving as the acting head of state, demonstrating the heightened political tensions within the country.
The vote was passed with all 192 participating members supporting the motion. The session began at 3 PM, and within moments it became clear just how serious the opposition was about holding Han accountable for his recent actions.
Han Duck-soo's tenure as acting President began on December 14, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. His role became contentious over the refusal to appoint any Constitutional Court justices — seen by many as obstructionist during a period of political strife.
"This is the first time in our constitutional history to impeach the acting Prime Minister who holds presidential authority," reported MBC News as it confirmed the proceedings. Following the historical vote, Han expressed his intention to comply with the suspension of duties, stating, "I have decided to suspend my duties according to relevant laws and await the Constitutional Court's decision."
The political atmosphere around the impeachment was charged. Members of the ruling People Power Party vehemently protested during the session. They surrounded the Speaker's chair, demanding the resignation of the Speaker, Woo Won-sik, claiming the vote to be invalid. This chaos was underpinned by the argument from the ruling party, which insisted the impeachment process should comply with the presidential standard requiring two-thirds majority support (over 200) rather than the simple majority applied to Han's case.
"We will contest the legitimacy of this vote, claiming it as null and void," declared the People Power Party leader, furiously challenging the rationale used for the process as they launched immediate discussions of legal action.
Meanwhile, the opposition continued its support for the impeachment, asserting it was necessary for restoring public trust and maintaining the rule of law. Park Sung-jun of the Democratic Party emphasized this sentiment: "Han Duck-soo's actions have been criticized as collaborating with the insurrection and failing to restore constitutional order."
Following the vote, the next steps are anticipated with great interest. Given the tumultuous political climate, the ramifications are expected to extend beyond this action. The Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok will take over as acting President, but doubts loom over whether one person can successfully manage the duties of both Deputy Prime Minister and acting President amid growing calls for clarity on future governance.
Concerns have been raised about Choi's ability to balance such responsibilities effectively, especially with tensions visible at multiple governmental levels. He must coordinate economic strategies whilst managing the interim duties traditionally held by the President. Yet, amid the chaos, hope resides with citizens who desire swift resolutions to the tumultuous political impasse.
The impeachment vote marks another chapter for South Korean politics, reminiscent of previous high-profile impeachments, yet unique due to the nature of the targets involved. With the next steps toward restoring stability uncertain, eyes will remain fixed on how political leaders navigate the arising challenges. Could this lead to renewed dialogue, or will the divisions deepen? Only time will tell.
