For the fourth time this month, a tumultuous battle over South Korea’s future is unfolding in its parliament. The impeachment of acting president Han Duck-soo marks a significant development in a saga that began when former president Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law in December.
Han, who had served as prime minister before becoming interim president, was removed from power after opposition MPs and a dozen rogue members of his own party broke through the initial vote’s failure. The impeachment process is now set to proceed to the constitutional court, where six justices must approve the vote for Yoon to be removed from office.
A crucial factor in Friday’s decision was Han’s refusal to appoint three opposition-approved nominees to complete the nine-member bench, citing a need for bipartisan agreement. This move sealed his fate as the first acting South Korean president to be impeached.
The constitutional court’s current composition – with only six justices – increased the likelihood of Yoon’s removal. However, the appointment of new justices may change the dynamics, potentially increasing the chances of Yoon’s conviction on charges related to martial law and subsequent actions.
With Yoon remaining a key figure in this volatile drama, the court’s ruling by the end of its 180-day deadline is uncertain. The coming weeks are likely to be just as tumultuous as the past month, with citizens continuing to demand stability amidst a separate criminal investigation into Yoon and his associates.
For millions of exhausted South Koreans, the court must navigate this complex situation where politicians have failed to deliver stability, leaving it to the country’s most senior legal minds to succeed.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/27/south-korea-constitutional-court-parliament-saga