South Korea votes to impeach incumbent President Han Duck-soo

South Korea has voted to impeach its incumbent President Han Duck-soo, two weeks after parliament voted to impeach its President Yoon Suk Yeol.

A total of 192 MPs voted for his impeachment, more than the 151 votes needed for success.

Prime Minister Han assumed the role after President Yoon was impeached by parliament on December 3 following his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Han was supposed to lead the country out of political turmoil, but opposition lawmakers argued that he rejected calls to complete the impeachment trial against Yoon.

There was chaos in parliament during the vote on Friday.

Lawmakers from Yoon and Han’s ruling People Power Party (PPP) protested after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes were needed to pass the impeachment bill.

This meant that unlike the 200 votes required for Yoon’s impeachment, this time no votes from ruling lawmakers were required for Han to be impeached in Parliament.

Ruling party MPs gathered in the middle of the polling booth and shouted “invalid!” and “abuse of power!” in response and called for the speaker’s resignation. Most of them boycotted the vote.

Han will be suspended from his duties once he is officially notified by Parliament.

Like Yoon, Han’s impeachment must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days to decide whether to uphold the impeachment.

“I respect the National Assembly’s decision,” Han said Friday, adding that he would “wait for the Constitutional Court’s decision.”

The opposition initially filed a motion to impeach Han on Thursday after he blocked the appointment of three judges selected by parliament to oversee Yoon’s case.

The Korean Constitutional Court usually consists of nine members. For the decision to be upheld, at least six justices must confirm Yoon’s impeachment.

There are currently only six justices on the bench, meaning a single rejection would save Yoon from removal.

The opposition had hoped the three additional nominees would help increase the chances of Yoon’s impeachment.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is expected to replace Han as acting president.

Han’s removal is likely to deepen the political gridlock and uncertainty currently grappling with the country.

On Friday, the Korean won also fell to its lowest level against the dollar since the global financial crisis 16 years ago – with both parties blaming each other for the chaos.