The opposition-dominated National Assembly impeached acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday, despite strong opposition from the ruling party, intensifying the political crisis sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial declaration of martial law and subsequent impeachment.

Han’s impeachment suspends his presidential powers and duties pending a Constitutional Court decision on his removal or reinstatement. The court is already considering Yoon’s impeachment. The impeachment of both top officials has severely destabilized the nation politically, economically, and internationally.

The National Assembly approved Han’s impeachment with a 192-0 vote. Ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers boycotted the vote, protesting its legitimacy and demanding the assembly speaker’s resignation. No violence occurred.

The PPP protested after the speaker declared a simple majority sufficient for impeachment, contradicting the PPP’s claim of a two-thirds majority requirement. While most South Korean officials require a simple majority for impeachment, the process for acting presidents lacks specific legal guidelines.

Han described his impeachment as regrettable but respectful of the Assembly’s decision. He pledged to suspend his duties to minimize further instability and await the Constitutional Court’s ruling.

Han’s powers were suspended upon delivery of the impeachment documents to him and the court. Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok assumed the acting presidency.

Choi subsequently ordered military readiness enhancements to deter potential provocations and instructed the foreign ministry to reassure key allies, including the U.S. and Japan, of South Korea’s unwavering foreign policy commitments.

Han, appointed prime minister by Yoon, became acting president following Yoon’s impeachment two weeks prior, stemming from the short-lived martial law declaration. He immediately clashed with the Democratic Party over the filling of Constitutional Court vacancies, investigation into Yoon’s actions, and agricultural legislation.

Central to the conflict is the opposition’s demand for Han to approve nominations for three Constitutional Court justices to ensure a full bench ahead of Yoon’s impeachment ruling. This is crucial because a six-justice majority is required to remove a president; additional justices would likely increase the probability of Yoon’s dismissal. Yoon’s party opposes the appointments, arguing Han lacks the authority to make them while Yoon’s impeachment is unresolved.

Han initially refused to appoint justices without bipartisan support. The Democratic Party subsequently filed an impeachment motion against him and passed bills on the judicial appointments.

Investigations are underway to determine whether Yoon committed rebellion and abuse of power. Yoon has repeatedly refused to cooperate with authorities.

His defense minister, police chief, and other senior military officials have been arrested for their involvement in the National Assembly standoff, which concluded with lawmakers overriding Yoon’s martial law decree.

Reports indicate that prosecutors indicted former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun for alleged complicity in Yoon’s alleged rebellion, abuse of power, and obstruction of justice. Kim, a close Yoon associate, is reportedly the first person charged in relation to the martial law decree.

Han’s impeachment cites his alleged collaboration in Yoon’s martial law declaration, obstruction of the Constitutional Court’s composition, and delay in investigating Yoon’s actions.

The six-hour martial law declaration—the first in over four decades—triggered significant political upheaval, international concern, and market instability. Yoon justified his actions as a response to the Democratic Party’s alleged obstructionism.