By Abiola Olawale
South Korea’s opposition has filed a motion to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo, escalating tensions in the political landscape of the country.
The New Diplomat reports that this follows the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The Democratic Party, which leads the opposition in South Korea criticised Han for not approving the appointments of three Constitutional Court judges, which are necessary for completing the impeachment process against Yoon.
The opposition party claimed that Han’s actions are unconstitutional and that he is allegedly avoiding investigations into Yoon’s declaration of martial law and allegations of corruption involving Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee.
The party also accused Han of refusing to promulgate special investigation bills and to appoint Constitutional Court justices, demonstrating a lack of commitment to upholding the law and the Constitution.
The New Diplomat also reports that if the impeachment motion against Han passes, it would mark the first time in South Korea’s democratic history that an acting president has been impeached.
The opposition needs a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to impeach Han.
In such a case, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok would take over as acting president.
The move also comes on the heels of the recent political crisis involving President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration.
