South Korea opposition plans to impeach acting President Han, after refusal to appoint new justices

Record ID: 1892147

  • Title: South Korea opposition plans to impeach acting President Han, after refusal to appoint new justices
  • Date: 26th December 2024
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE - MARCH 7, 2023) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FLAG OF SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WAVING / LETTER ON FLAG READING (Korean): “NATIONAL ASSEMBLY”
  • Embargoed: 9th January 2025 07:43
  • Keywords: Han Duck-soo Prime Minister South Korea impeachment martial law opposition party politics
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001944726122024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korea's main opposition party said it will introduce a bill to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday (December 26) and hold a vote on Friday (December 27), in a move that could deepen the country's constitutional crisis triggered by former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law.
    The opposition Democratic Party had threatened to impeach Han if he did not immediately appoint three justices to fill the vacancies at the Constitutional Court. Parliament had voted in favour of three nominees on Thursday (December 26), but they have yet to be formally appointed by Han.
    Han said earlier on Thursday (December 26) that he will not appoint the justices until political parties reach an agreement on the appointments. According to him, to do so without political consensus will harm constitutional order.
    If Han is impeached, the finance minister will assume the acting presidency. The Democratic Party has majority control of parliament, but there is disagreement between the parties and some constitutional scholars over whether a simple majority or a two-thirds vote is needed to impeach the acting president.
    (Production: Sebin Choi, Hyunyoung Yi)
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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