South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo happymamay

South Korea voted to impeach its acting president, Han Dak-soo, two weeks after Parliament voted to impeach its president, Yoon Suk-yul.

A total of 192 MPs voted in favor of his impeachment, more than the 151 votes needed for it to succeed.

Prime Minister Han assumed the position after President Yoon was impeached by Parliament following his failed attempt to impose martial law on December 3.

Han was supposed to lead the country out of political turmoil, but opposition lawmakers argued that he rejected demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment.

A state of chaos prevailed in Parliament during the vote on Friday.

Lawmakers from Yoon Whan’s ruling People Power Party protested after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes would be needed to pass the impeachment bill.

This means that, unlike the 200 votes required to remove Yoon, no votes from ruling lawmakers will be needed this time to remove Han in Parliament.

Representatives of the ruling party gathered in the middle of the voting hall, chanting, “Void!” and “Abuse of power!” In response, he called on the Speaker of Parliament to step down. Most of them boycotted the vote.

Han will be suspended from his duties once Parliament is officially notified.

As with Yoon, Han’s dismissal would need to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to rule on whether the dismissal should be upheld.

“I respect the decision of the National Assembly,” Han said Friday, adding that he “will wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court.”

The opposition filed for the first time a request for Han’s impeachment on Thursday after he blocked the appointment of three judges chosen by Parliament to oversee Yoon’s case.

The Constitutional Court of Korea usually consists of a panel of nine members. At least six justices must uphold Yoon’s removal for the decision to be upheld.

There are currently only six justices on the bench, meaning one rejection would save Yoon from dismissal.

The opposition had hoped that the three additional candidates would help improve Yoon’s chances of being removed.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is set to replace Han as acting president.

Han’s removal will likely exacerbate the political deadlock and uncertainty the country is currently grappling with.

On Friday, the Korean won also fell to its lowest level against the dollar since the global financial crisis 16 years ago, with both sides blaming each other for the chaos.