There was uproar when the Speaker Woo Won Shik announced the vote would only require a simple majority in the 300-member assembly.
The acting President of South Korea, Han Duck-soo, has been impeached in the National Assembly amid chaotic scenes, with politicians from the ruling party protesting the parliamentary speaker’s handling of the vote.
The single-chamber National Assembly passed the impeachment motion on Dec. 27 with a 192-0 vote.
It was the latest act in a political drama that began in South Korea on Dec. 3 when President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law, only to reverse his decision six hours later. He was impeached on Dec. 14.
Han, 75, who is from the same conservative People Power Party (PPP) as Yoon, was drafted in to act as the country’s leader but he enraged the liberal opposition Democratic Party (DP) in the National Assembly, leading to calls to impeach him.
There are no laws on the impeachment of an acting president, so when Speaker Woo Won Shik announced the vote would only require a simple majority in the 300-member assembly, there was uproar with the PPP claiming it should be by a two-thirds majority.
When the outcome of the vote was announced and fell eight votes short of a two-thirds majority, many PPP delegates shouted that the vote was “Invalid!” and demanded Woo’s resignation.
No violence or injuries were reported.
Han’s impeachment means he will be stripped of his powers as president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him.
The deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, is now set to take over as the new acting president.
When Yoon imposed martial law he said it was to overcome political deadlock and root out “anti-state forces.”
Under his command, the military deployed special forces to the national assembly, the election commission, and the office of a liberal YouTube commentator.
At least 12 National Assembly members from Yoon’s party joined the opposition to support his impeachment on Dec. 14.
The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether to reinstate Yoon or remove him. If they choose to remove him a new presidential election would need to be held within 60 days.
