South Korea Faces Leadership Crisis as Acting President Han Impeached

South Korea plunged deeper into a leadership crisis on Friday as lawmakers impeached Acting President Han Duck-soo, marking the first time an interim leader has been ousted in the country’s history. The National Assembly voted 192-0 in favor of Han’s impeachment after he resisted appointing three judges to the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to reinstate or permanently remove President Yoon Suk Yeol. Han had stepped in as acting president following Yoon’s suspension earlier this month over his brief imposition of martial law.

The impeachment leaves South Korea without a strong elected leader during a time of economic challenges and heightened threats from North Korea. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed the role of interim leader, pledging to stabilize state affairs and enhance military vigilance. However, like his predecessor, Choi lacks an electoral mandate, further deepening concerns over prolonged political instability.

The leadership vacuum has rattled financial markets, eroded business and consumer confidence, and weakened the country’s diplomacy. Opposition parties accuse Yoon and Han of undermining democratic processes, while ruling party members protested the impeachment vote, calling for the resignation of National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. At the heart of the crisis is the Constitutional Court, which currently has six of nine judges after recent retirements. A full bench of six votes is required to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, but with one dissenting voice, he could be reinstated. The political uncertainty threatens to harm South Korea’s economic and diplomatic standing, according to experts.

South Korea’s government now faces the critical challenge of regaining stability while navigating pressing domestic and international issues, including nuclear threats and strained alliances.