South Korean Opposition Moves to Impeach Acting President Han Over Court Appointments

Dec 26, 2024, 08:41 AM

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party has filed an impeachment motion against Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, accusing him of refusing to appoint three judges to the Constitutional Court, which is required to rule on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The motion was submitted to the National Assembly's plenary session on Thursday, and a vote is scheduled for Friday. If the motion passes, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Strategy and Finance, will become the acting president. Han has been acting president for less than two weeks, following the impeachment of President Yoon on December 14 after a short-lived declaration of martial law. The Constitutional Court must deliver a ruling within six months on whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment of President Yoon. Han's refusal to appoint the judges has deepened the country's constitutional crisis.