South Korean lawmakers impeach second president in two weeks

PPP leader Kweon Seong-dong said after the vote that Han “must continue to run state affairs without giving in to the opposition’s adoption of the impeachment motion.”

However, Han said in a statement that he “respects the parliament’s decision” and will wait for the Constitutional Court’s further decision on whether to uphold it.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, now stepping into the roles of both acting president and prime minister, has pledged to do everything possible to end the political unrest plaguing his country.

“Minimizing government turbulence is of utmost importance at this time,” Choi said in a speech shortly after his appointment as interim leader, adding that “the government will also devote all efforts to overcoming this periods of unrest”.

Amid the ongoing crisis, South Korea’s earnings hit a 16-year low against the US dollar on Friday, doing worse than immediately after Yoon’s declaration of martial law, which sent the currency to a low of two years against the greenback.

Shares in Seoul also fell, with the KOSPI index closing down 1.02% on Friday.

– “True Colors” –

At the heart of the backlash against Han has been his refusal to appoint additional judges to the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold parliament’s decision to impeach Yoon, and now Han.

Currently, the court does not have three judges. While it can go ahead with its six members on the bench, a single dissenting vote would reinstate Yoon.

The opposition wanted Han to approve three more nominees to fill the nine-member bench, which he had refused, leaving both sides deadlocked.

Han’s refusal to formally appoint more judges “revealed his true colors,” said Democratic Party lawmaker Jo Seoung-lae.

The refusal “is a direct challenge to the Constitution and the law,” Jo said.