Ruling and Opposition Clash Over Impeachment Criteria for Han Deok-su... Confusion Expected Even if Passed

Woo Won-sik to Set Impeachment Approval Criteria Before Plenary Session
People Power Party Announces Legal Actions Including Jurisdiction Dispute and Injunction
Choi Sang-mok Responds "..." to Question on Acting Authority Preparation

The National Assembly is about to hold a historic vote on the impeachment motion against the Acting President. The ruling and opposition parties are sharply divided over the approval criteria for the impeachment motion against Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-su, so even if it passes, controversy is expected.

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering an emergency national address on the 26th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Government Office Photographers Group

On the afternoon of the 27th, the National Assembly plans to hold a plenary session and proceed with the vote on the impeachment motion against Acting President Han. The People Power Party opposes Han's impeachment, but it is expected that the impeachment motion will be approved under the leadership of the large opposition party holding 192 seats. This is the first time in constitutional history that an impeachment motion against an Acting President has been submitted to the plenary session and voted on.

The ruling and opposition parties have been continuously disputing the quorum requirement for the impeachment motion against Acting President Han. The ruling party argues that the approval standard should be two-thirds of all members, i.e., 200 votes in favor, the same as the impeachment requirements for the President. On the 23rd, Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, stated, "If the National Assembly impeaches Han as Prime Minister, it directly contradicts the submission of the impeachment motion against the Acting President," adding, "The impeachment procedure requiring the consent of two-thirds of all members for the President must be followed."

On the other hand, the opposition party holds that there is no reason for a dispute over the quorum requirement itself. This is because Acting President Han is not an elected official but an appointed public official. On the same day, Kim Yong-min, a member of the Democratic Party, said on his social media, "The quorum dispute is a controversy created by making a controversy," and added, "The reason a supermajority was adopted for presidential impeachment is because the President is a power directly elected by the people. The constitutional spirit dictates that appointed powers should be impeached by a majority of all members."

The opposition party seems to be relying on Speaker Woo Won-sik's decision rather than actively fighting over the quorum standard. On the previous day, Kang Yoo-jung, the Democratic Party's floor spokesperson, said, "The moment Speaker Woo mentions 151 as the standard, it will serve as a precedent," and added, "In this situation, Woo's interpretation is more important than opinions on uncharted territory." However, the Speaker's office clarified that it has not yet confirmed 151 as the approval standard for the impeachment motion against Acting President Han. Speaker Woo is expected to announce his position ahead of the plenary session.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok is attending the Domestic Economy Revitalization Democratic Party-Government Council held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Even if Speaker Woo proposes 151 as the standard and the impeachment motion against Acting President Han is approved, controversy is expected to continue. The People Power Party has stated that it will seek a legal judgment on the quorum requirement. If the impeachment motion passes, legal actions such as a constitutional dispute trial and injunction applications are expected to follow immediately. They also argued that if the appointment of constitutional court justices is forced, the impeachment trial against President Yoon would be invalid. Acting Leader Kwon said after a party meeting the previous day, "The National Assembly is the plaintiff in the presidential impeachment trial, so the National Assembly recommending constitutional court justices who judge the impeachment is like a prosecutor choosing the judge."

If Acting President Han refuses to suspend his duties, the political situation is expected to become even more chaotic. On the 24th, Acting Leader Kwon said, "Even if more than half of all members of the National Assembly vote in favor, it is a clear constitutional violation," and added, "(Even if approved) Acting President Han must continue to perform his duties as usual." Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, who is expected to succeed Han's authority, did not respond to reporters' questions at the National Assembly that day regarding the possibility of Han's impeachment or preparations for the acting president system.