South Korean lawmakers file motion to impeach acting president

South Korea’s opposition lawmakers have filed a motion to impeach the country’s Prime Minister and acting leader Han Duk-soo, less than two weeks after parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.

This came after Han refused to appoint constitutional court judges nominated by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).

“Han has described himself not as acting president, but as acting rebel,” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said Thursday.

The opposition has also accused Han of aiding Yun’s martial law attempt on 3 December. Han had earlier apologized for failing to stop it.

Han also vetoed several opposition-led bills, including a proposal for a special investigation into Yun’s short-lived martial law declaration.

Voting on the impeachment motion is expected to take place in the next 24 to 72 hours.

To make it successful, 151 out of 300 MPs will have to vote for it.

The DP currently holds 170 out of 300 seats in parliament. The opposition group has a total of 192 seats.

Opposition parties were hoping that Han would not stand in their way while serving as the country’s acting president and that he would allow the bills to pass.

But instead he stood firm, deepening the political dispute.

On Tuesday, Han ended a Cabinet meeting without reviewing two opposition-sponsored bills, calling for a martial law declaration and a special counsel investigation into corruption allegations involving first lady Kim Kyon Hee.

He said that he did not put these on the agenda so that the ruling and opposition parties could get more time to reach an agreement.

But DP floor leader Park Chan-dae criticized them for “wasting time and prolonging the rebellion”.

“We have clearly warned that it is entirely up to Prime Minister Han Duk-soo whether he will go down in history as a disgraceful figure, as a puppet of leader Yoon Suk Yeol who plotted rebellion, or Will be known as a public servant who has honestly served the public’s orders,” Park said at a televised party meeting.

And on Thursday, Han said he would not appoint three judges nominated by the opposition-dominated National Assembly to the constitutional court – which is considering whether Yun should be impeached – when Until the rival parties reach a consensus.

To this, Park said, “It has become clear that Han Duk-soo is neither qualified nor willing to defend the Constitution”, adding that the opposition would “immediately” introduce an impeachment bill.

Han’s ruling People’s Power Party said the opposition’s threats interfered with Han’s “legitimate exercise of authority”, while a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office criticized the threats as “extremely regrettable”.

Han stepped in as acting president after Yun was ousted from office earlier this month. If lawmakers vote to impeach Han, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok would be next in line.

The latest development in the country’s political turmoil comes as the Seoul Constitutional Court considers whether Yoon should be permanently banned from office.

The court is expected to hold its first public hearing later this week.

It is unclear whether Yoon himself will take the stand during the hearing, but protesters have vowed to continue demanding Yoon’s removal during court proceedings.

Yun is also being investigated for alleged rebellion over a failed attempt to put the country under martial law.

He has refused to accept multiple summonses sent to him, and investigators have warned that they may issue an arrest warrant if he continues to be irresponsible.

Several senior officials are also being investigated, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and army chief Park An-su.

Additional reporting by Jake Kwon and Hosu Lee in Seoul