Political Turmoil in South Korea: Why Lawmakers Are Targeting Acting President Han Duck-soo

South Korea’s political dilemma keeps getting worse. Lawmakers are now calling for the impeachment of acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo after President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office. This development calls into doubt Han’s leadership background, role, and the reasons behind this extraordinary political action.

For more than thirty years, seasoned technocrat Han Duck-soo has occupied important positions in South Korean politics. The 75-year-old has held the post under liberal President Roh Moo-hyun between 2007-2008 and is currently in his second term as prime minister since 2022.

Over the course of his long career, Han has held leadership positions under five presidents, including Kim Dae-jung and Lee Myung-bak, both liberal and conservative. He worked closely with American officials, notably then-Vice President Joe Biden, to improve bilateral ties during his time serving as South Korea’s ambassador to the US.

Han, a prominent figure in South Korean politics, holds a doctorate in economics from Harvard and is well-versed in trade, diplomacy, and economic policy. He is praised for his ability to function in politically heated situations, his reasonableness, and his moderate manner. In his 2022 support, President Yoon praised Han’s wealth of expertise and referred to him as “the right person” to lead in trying times.

Han is being targeted for impeachment by the opposition due to a number of controversial issues.Han has been accused of impeding the legal process by refusing to appoint three judges named by the opposition to the Constitutional Court. Six of the court’s nine members must agree on a conviction before it can decide President Yoon’s fate. Han has been accused of postponing justice and advancing the interests of the ruling party by refusing to fill these vacancies.

Han has been accused by the Democratic Party, which has a parliamentary majority, of vetoing important proposals supported by the opposition, including as one that would restructure agriculture. Relationship tension increased when Han refused to do these actions in spite of several deadlines.Han has also been accused of being involved in President Yoon’s effort to declare martial law earlier this month. The opposition says Han’s actions weakened democratic processes, despite his apology for not being able to stop the move.Han has been charged by Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae with behaving more like a “insurrectionist” than a stable leader. According to Park, Han’s behavior shows that he is not willing to follow the constitution, which is why an impeachment bill will be introduced right now.

An impeachment vote against Han Duck-soo could take place as early as December 27. While the Democratic Party controls 170 of the 300 parliamentary seats, impeaching an acting president may require a two-thirds majority vote—a point of contention between the ruling and opposition parties.

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This political upheaval adds another layer of complexity to South Korea’s governance during a time of heightened economic and geopolitical challenges. With President Yoon already under scrutiny and several senior officials arrested over allegations of abuse of power, Han’s potential impeachment could further destabilize the country’s leadership.