The National Assembly in South Korea is in turmoil! Acting President Han Duck-soo has also been dismissed.

The political chaos that began after the martial law crisis resulting in the suspension of President Yoon Suk Yeol's powers in South Korea is deepening. A vote was held in the National Assembly for the removal of Han Duck-soo, who was appointed as the Acting President from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).

ACTING PRESIDENT ALSO IMPEACHED

The impeachment motion was accepted with 192 votes in favor from the 300-seat parliament. Thus, for the first time in South Korea's history, the powers of someone acting as president have been suspended. Han stated after the vote in the National Assembly that he respects the Assembly's decision and will wait for the Constitutional Court to make its final ruling. Han Duck-soo had been acting as president since December 14, when Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office.

TENSE MOMENTS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Tense moments occurred in the Assembly during the voting. The National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik's procedural statements caused tension. Woo's classification of Han Duck-soo as a "cabinet member" instead of acting president and stating that a simple majority (151 votes) was necessary for his impeachment drew the ire of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) members. A brief tension arose as PPP members argued that a two-thirds majority, or 200 votes, was needed for the removal of the acting president, just like for the president. Ruling party members went to the front of the podium to protest Speaker Woo. The members shouted, "The vote is invalid" and "This is an abuse of power." There were also instances of pushing among the members during the tension.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The powers of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who declared martial law on the grounds that the opposition was engaged in activities against the state, were suspended after the impeachment motion against him was accepted in the National Assembly. By law, the Acting Presidency was assumed by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. However, Han's veto of the bills proposing a special investigation into Yoon's martial law decision and corruption allegations against Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, as well as his failure to appoint the Constitutional Court judges nominated by the DP, led to a backlash from the opposition. DP Group Leader Park Chan-dae stated that "Han lacks the capacity or will to uphold the Constitution" and announced that they would initiate the impeachment process. The DP had submitted the impeachment motion against Han to the National Assembly just yesterday.