The National Assembly will hold a plenary session this afternoon (27th) to vote on the impeachment motion against Deputy President Han Duck-soo, who is serving as acting president.
This is the first time in constitutional history that an impeachment motion against an acting president has been put to vote in a plenary session.
The Democratic Party immediately proposed the impeachment following Deputy President Han’s public statement yesterday (26th), where he announced that he would withhold the appointment of a Constitutional Court judge until an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties is reached.
The grounds for the impeachment outlined in the motion include: ▲ Rejection of the “Kim Kun-hee Special Investigation Law” and the “Chae Hae-byeong Special Investigation Law” ▲ Collaboration, condoning, and assistance in martial law rebellion activities ▲ Joint administration with Han Dong-hoon and Han Duck-soo ▲ Avoidance of appointing a permanent special prosecutor for rebellion ▲ Refusal to appoint a Constitutional Court judge.
The People Power Party argues that the impeachment of an acting president should follow the standard of “presidential impeachment” (requiring approval from two-thirds of the entire members), meaning that without 200 votes in favor, the impeachment motion would be rejected, and Deputy President Han would continue his duties.
The opposition believes that the approval standard for the impeachment of Deputy President Han, who is also the Prime Minister, should be the same as for other cabinet members, which is “more than half.”
Thus, they expect that if more than 151 members vote in favor, the impeachment motion will be passed.
If the impeachment motion is passed, Deputy President Han’s duties will be suspended, and Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok will take on the role of acting president.