192 Support Impeachment Proposal Passed
Acting Chief Choi Sang-mok Says National Turmoil Inevitable
People Power Files Injunction to Suspend Impeachment Effect
Democrats May Continue Cabinet Members' Impeachment
The impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting president, passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th. This is the first time in constitutional history that an impeachment motion against an acting president has passed. With Han’s impeachment, Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, will assume the role of acting president.
On the day, the National Assembly approved the impeachment motion against Acting President Han with 192 votes in favor. The People Power Party claimed the motion was "null and void" and did not participate in the vote.
Before the impeachment vote, Speaker Woo Won-shik specified the quorum for the resolution as a majority of the total members (151), the standard for the Prime Minister’s impeachment. Speaker Woo stated, "This agenda will be voted on by secret ballot according to Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the National Assembly Act," and added, "This is an impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and according to Article 65, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, it will be resolved with the approval of a majority of the total members."
In response to Speaker Woo’s decision, members of the People Power Party gathered in front of the speaker’s podium, shouting "null and void," "abuse of authority," and "resign, Speaker," protesting. Prior to this, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the quorum for Han’s impeachment resolution. The Democratic Party insisted on 151 votes, while the People Power Party countered by demanding 200 votes, arguing Han should be treated as president for the quorum.
Immediately after the impeachment passed, Acting President Han stated, "I respect the decision of the National Assembly. I will await the Constitutional Court’s ruling." Once the Prime Minister’s Office receives the impeachment resolution from the National Assembly, Han’s duties as acting president will be suspended. The Speaker’s office announced, "Speaker Woo delivered a copy of the 'Prime Minister (Han Duck-soo) impeachment resolution' to the Prime Minister’s Office around 5:20 p.m. today," adding, "Han Duck-soo’s duties as acting president have been officially suspended."
Members of the People Power Party are protesting Speaker Woo Won-shik on the 27th at the National Assembly plenary session over the quorum issue for the impeachment motion against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. (Photo by Gong Byung-sun)
Choi Sang-mok, unprecedented 'acting president’s acting president'... inevitable government turmoil
The unprecedented impeachment of the acting president is inevitably causing waves of government turmoil.
Even if Deputy Prime Minister Choi immediately assumes the acting role, the external economy is expected to take a direct hit. The won-dollar exchange rate surged to the 1,480 won level on the day. The exchange rate surpassing 1,470 won is the first time in 15 years and 9 months since March 13, 2009 (1,483.5 won) during the global financial crisis.
Whether Choi can control areas such as diplomacy, defense, and security amid the excessive workload of handling three roles is also a concern. On the day, Deputy Prime Minister Choi warned, "If Acting President Han is impeached, serious damage to the national economy and government affairs is inevitable."
Domestic political turmoil is also expected to prolong. Deputy Prime Minister Choi must immediately decide on the emergency martial law special investigation law led by the Democratic Party, the special investigation law on First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and the appointment of three constitutional court justices.
Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, is attending the Private-Public Council for Revitalizing the Domestic Economy held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
People Power Party claims Han Duck-soo impeachment invalid... files injunction to suspend effect
Immediately after the impeachment of Acting President Han was approved, the People Power Party filed a jurisdictional dispute trial and an injunction to suspend the effect with the Constitutional Court. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, and 108 others stated in their petition, "The grounds for impeachment against Prime Minister Han do not meet the constitutional requirements for impeachment, and the grounds themselves do not constitute any legal or constitutional violations."
They argued, "The exercise of the prime minister’s veto recommendation, opposition to the emergency martial law cabinet meeting deliberation, and the suspension of the appointment of constitutional court justices as acting president were duties lawfully performed under the Constitution and laws and cannot be grounds for impeachment."
The People Power Party explained, "Although Prime Minister Han holds the position of acting president, the respondent did not apply the heightened impeachment quorum equivalent to that of the president, which is a serious unconstitutional interpretation," adding, "Such actions by the respondent infringe upon the petitioners’ rights to deliberate and vote on the impeachment motion and undermine the people’s representative rights."
They further stated, "The respondent’s actions are null and void, seriously infringing upon the petitioners’ people’s representative rights and rights to deliberate and vote on the impeachment motion," and "These acts violate the Constitution and the National Assembly Act, requiring a declaration of nullity and suspension of effect."
On the 27th, members of the People Power Party strongly protested Speaker Woo Won-shik during the plenary session of the National Assembly where the motion to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was submitted, raising issues with the required quorum for the impeachment motion to pass (majority approval of all members). Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Democratic Party: Impeachment is not over... possibility of consecutive impeachments of cabinet members
The opposition hinted at the possibility of additional impeachments if Deputy Prime Minister Choi opposes the promulgation of special investigation laws. This suggests that Choi’s impeachment may not be the end. The Democratic Party is demanding that Choi immediately appoint three constitutional court justices in his capacity as acting president. If he fails to comply, impeachment proceedings may follow. If the impeachment motion against Deputy Prime Minister Choi passes, the acting president role will fall to Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, who ranks fourth in government protocol.
The Democratic Party’s threat to use the impeachment card against cabinet members stems from concerns that the economic crisis could spiral out of control if the government turmoil, which began with President Yoon Seok-youl’s emergency martial law on December 3, continues. By blaming President Yoon and the ruling party for the turmoil, they are securing legitimacy for the impeachment of the acting president.
Some interpret that if impeachment motions against five or more cabinet members continue, the cabinet meetings themselves may not be held. According to Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the Cabinet Meeting Regulations, a cabinet meeting requires the attendance of a majority of cabinet members and approval by two-thirds of those present.
The cabinet consists of 21 members including the president. Currently, six positions including the president, defense minister, interior minister, and prime minister are vacant. If five more members are impeached, only 10 cabinet members will remain, making it impossible to hold meetings. If cabinet meetings cannot be convened, government bills are automatically promulgated. This would allow the opposition to implement various bills. However, considering the uncontrollable economic fallout, this scenario is currently seen as unlikely.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is announcing his position on the political situation, including the impeachment motion against Acting President Han Duck-soo, at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
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