South Korea’s political crisis deepened as the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) threatened to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo if he fails to enact legislation launching a special counsel investigation into the impeachment of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Prime Minister Han assumed the role of acting president after Yoon was impeached on December 14, with the Constitutional Court now reviewing whether to permanently remove him from office.
The DP, holding a parliamentary majority, passed a bill to appoint a special counsel to investigate allegations of insurrection against Yoon, alongside accusations of misconduct involving his wife. The party has also accused Han of complicity in Yoon’s failed bid to declare martial law, filing a police report against him.
“If Han does not promulgate the legislation by Tuesday, we will immediately initiate impeachment proceedings,” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said during a party meeting, accusing Han of violating constitutional obligations and acting as Yoon’s proxy.
Han, a veteran technocrat with a political career spanning three decades, apologized for his inability to prevent Yoon’s martial law attempt but denied supporting it. His office has yet to comment on the impeachment threat.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has moved forward with the impeachment trial, overriding the presidential office’s refusal to accept court documents. Investigators have also faced resistance in their attempts to raid Yoon’s office, with presidential security officials denying them access.
Yoon’s People Power Party accused the opposition of exploiting “impeachment politics” to pressure Han and advance its agenda, arguing that ongoing investigations are already addressing the allegations.
As investigations intensify, including efforts to question Yoon and preserve key evidence, South Korea remains deeply divided over the political turmoil engulfing its leadership.
