Seoul was buzzing today as the South Korean parliament took a historic vote 📣, impeaching Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been serving as acting president following President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced in a televised session that the motion to impeach Han passed with an overwhelming 192 votes in favor out of 300 members. 🎉
This marks the first time in South Korea's modern history that an impeachment motion against an acting president has been both proposed and passed in the National Assembly. 🏛️
Before the vote, members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) staged a dramatic walkout, chanting \"Null and void!\" and \"Resign, speaker!\" 🚪🚶♂️ Their 108 lawmakers boycotted the vote in protest.
The PPP argued that impeachment of an acting president required a two-thirds majority of 200 votes, similar to the president's impeachment. However, opposition parties contended that a simple majority of 151 votes was sufficient since Han is a member of the cabinet. ⚖️
With Han's duties now suspended until the Constitutional Court reaches a decision within 180 days, Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok will step in as the new acting president. 🕰️
Han's impeachment follows his official refusal to approve the appointment of three Constitutional Court justices, crucial for President Yoon's impeachment trial. President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached on December 14 and faces charges including insurrection. 🚨
During the political turmoil, Yoon declared an emergency martial law on December 3, which was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly. 🛑
To permanently remove President Yoon from office, at least six out of nine Constitutional Court justices must uphold the impeachment. The nation watches closely as these unprecedented events unfold, with potential impacts on South Korea's political landscape and beyond. 🌐
Stay tuned, everyone! South Korea's political scene just got a lot more interesting. 🤔 Who knows what twists and turns await in this real-life political drama? 🎭
Reference(s):
South Korean parliament votes to impeach acting President Han
cgtn.com
