South Korea's opposition-controlled National Assembly votes to impeach acting President Han
South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly has voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite vehement protests by governing party lawmakers, further deepening the country’s political crisis set off by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment.
Han’s impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him. The court is already reviewing whether to uphold Yoon's earlier impeachment.
The impeachments of the country’s top two officials has worsened its political turmoil, deepened economic uncertainties and hurting its international image.
The single-chamber National Assembly passed Han’s impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote. Lawmakers with the governing People Power Party boycotted the vote and surrounded the podium where assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik was seated, shouting that the vote was invalid and demanding Woo's resignation. No violence or injuries were reported.