South Korea's parliament votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo

South Korea's parliament has voted to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo, just two weeks after the legislative body approved the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In a significant decision, 192 lawmakers supported the impeachment, surpassing the 151 votes required for it to pass.

Han assumed the role of acting president after Yoon was impeached following his controversial attempt to impose martial law on December 3.

Initially expected to stabilize the nation amid political turmoil, Han faced criticism from opposition lawmakers who accused him of obstructing the impeachment process against Yoon.

As the vote unfolded on Friday, dramatic scenes erupted in the National Assembly. Members of Yoon and Han's ruling People Power Party (PPP) protested vocally when National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes were needed for the impeachment, contrasting with the 200 votes previously required to impeach Yoon. This shift meant that votes from the ruling party were not essential for Han’s removal.

In response to the announcement, ruling party members gathered in the voting chamber, chanting phrases like "invalid!" and "abuse of power!" They called for the Speaker's resignation and many chose to boycott the vote altogether. Once parliament officially notifies Han, he will be suspended from his duties.

The opposition initiated the impeachment motion against Han after he blocked the appointment of three judges who were set to oversee Yoon's impeachment case. Typically, South Korea's Constitutional Court consists of a nine-member bench, with at least six judges required to uphold an impeachment decision.

Currently, there are only six judges, so if even one were to reject Yoon's impeachment, he would remain in office. The opposition had hoped that appointing the three new judges would enhance the chances of Yoon’s impeachment.

This event marks a historical moment, as it is the first time an acting president in South Korea has faced impeachment since the country transitioned to a democratic government. Following Han's impeachment, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to take over as acting president.

Han’s impeachment, like Yoon's, will need confirmation from the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to decide on the matter. "I respect the decision of the National Assembly," Han stated on Friday, expressing his intention to await the court's ruling. He also announced his decision to suspend his duties to "not add to the chaos."

The political turmoil began on December 3, when Yoon surprised the nation with his martial law declaration, citing a need to safeguard against "anti-state" forces. Hours later, as 190 lawmakers voted down the declaration, many were seen climbing over fences and breaking through barricades to reach the voting chamber. Yoon later apologized but maintained that his actions aimed to protect democracy in the country.

Since the incident, Yoon and his allies have faced significant political and legal challenges stemming from the brief martial law order. Key officials from his administration have been arrested and indicted on charges of insurrection, and Yoon himself is under investigation, facing an impeachment trial.