The South Korean opposition voted for the impeachment of the acting president

South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duk-soo despite fierce protests from ruling party lawmakers, deepening the country’s political crisis after President Yoon Suk-yeol imposed martial law and impeached him.

Khan’s impeachment means he will be stripped of his presidential powers and duties until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove or reinstate him.

The court is now considering whether to uphold Yoon’s previous impeachment. The impeachment of two of the country’s top officials has worsened its political turmoil, deepened economic uncertainties and damaged its international image.

The unicameral National Assembly passed the motion to impeach Han by a vote of 192-0.

Lawmakers from the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote and gathered at the seat of assembly speaker Woo Won-shik, shouting that the vote was “invalid” and demanding Woo’s resignation.

PPP lawmakers protested after Woo called for a vote on Han’s impeachment after announcing that the PPP claimed it required a simple majority in the 300-member assembly. Most South Korean officials can be impeached by a simple majority vote by the National Assembly, but impeachment of the president requires two-thirds support. There are no specific laws on the impeachment of the acting president.

In a statement, Han called the impeachment “regrettable” but said he respected the assembly’s decision and would suspend his duties “to avoid further confusion and uncertainty.” He said that he will wait for the “quick and wise decision” of the Constitutional Court.

Han’s powers were officially suspended after copies of the impeachment document were delivered to him and the Constitutional Court. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Choi Sang-mok took over this position.

Later on Friday, Choi’s office said he had ordered the military to increase its readiness to prevent North Korea from miscalculating the situation and launching provocations. He also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the US, Japan and other key partners that South Korea’s foreign policy remains unchanged.

Han, appointed prime minister by Yoon, became acting president after conservative Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly nearly two weeks ago for imposing a short-term martial law on Dec. 3.

Han quickly clashed with the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, pushing back on opposition-led efforts to fill three vacancies on the Constitutional Court, set up an independent inquiry into Yoon’s martial law and legalize pro-farmer bills.

At the center of the fighting is the Democratic Party’s demand to approve the nomination of three new Constitutional Court judges to restore the full nine-member bench ahead of the Democratic Party’s decision to impeach Handan Yoon. It is a politically sensitive issue, as a court order to remove Yoon as president needs the support of at least six justices, and the addition of more justices is likely to increase the prospects of Yoon’s ouster.

Yoon’s political allies in the ruling People’s Power Party oppose the appointment of the three justices, saying Han should not use his presidential powers to make appointments while Yoon has not yet been formally removed from office.

WATCH | Why Yoon was impeached a few days ago:

The South Korean parliament voted to impeach the president due to martial law

South Korea’s parliament voted on Saturday to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol over his short-term martial law, a historic rebuke that was hailed by jubilant crowds who described the outcome as yet another challenge in the country’s robust democratic journey.

On Thursday, Han said he would not appoint judges without the consent of the two parties. The Democratic Party, which has a majority in the Assembly, introduced an impeachment motion against Han and passed bills calling for the appointment of three justices.

South Korean investigative authorities are investigating whether Yoon committed rebellion and abuse of power with the marriage law decree. Yoon has repeatedly ignored authorities’ requests to appear for face-to-face questioning.

His defense minister, police chief and several other senior military commanders have already been arrested over the deployment of troops and police officers to the National Assembly, sparking a dramatic standoff when lawmakers were able to enter the chamber and vote unanimously to overturn Yoon’s decree. .