South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo faces impeachment motion

South Korea’s opposition lawmakers have tabled a motion to remove the country’s prime minister and interim leader, Han Duck-soo, less than two weeks after parliament voted to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol.

This comes after Han refused to appoint constitutional court judges appointed by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).

“Han has revealed himself to be a sitting insurrectionist, not a sitting president,” DP parliamentary leader Park Chan-dae said Thursday.

The opposition also accused Han of aiding Yoon’s martial law attempt on December 3. Han previously apologized for not blocking him.

Han also vetoed several opposition-led bills, including one proposing a special investigation into Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law.

The impeachment motion is expected to come to a vote in the next 24 to 72 hours.

For it to be successful, 151 of 300 deputies must vote in favor.

The PD currently holds 170 of the 300 seats in parliament. The opposition bloc together has 192 seats.

Opposition parties hoped that Han would not stand in their way as he acted as the country’s acting president and would allow bills to pass.

But instead it has stood firm, deepening the political conflict.

On Tuesday, Han concluded a Cabinet meeting without reviewing two opposition-sponsored bills calling for special prosecutor investigations into the declaration of martial law and corruption allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee.

He said he did not include them on the agenda to give the ruling and opposition parties more time to reach a compromise.

But DP parliamentary leader Park Chan-dae criticized him for “buying time and prolonging the insurrection.”

“We have clearly warned that it is entirely up to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo whether he will go down in history as a shameful figure, as a puppet of rebellion plot leader Yoon Suk Yeol, or a public servant who has faithfully carried out the orders of the public,” Park said at a televised party meeting.

And on Thursday, Han said he would not name the three judges the opposition-dominated National Assembly had nominated to the constitutional court – which is deliberating whether Yoon should be impeached – unless rival parties reach a consensus.

To this, Park said that “it has become clear that Han Duck-soo is neither qualified nor willing to defend the constitution,” adding that the opposition will “immediately” present the impeachment bill.

Han’s ruling People Power Party said the opposition’s threats have interfered with Han’s “legitimate exercise of authority,” while a senior official in the prime minister’s office criticized the threats as “extremely regrettable.”

Han took over as acting president after Yoon was removed from office earlier this month. If lawmakers vote to impeach Han, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will be next in line.

This latest development in the country’s political turmoil comes as Seoul’s Constitutional Court is deliberating whether Yoon should be permanently barred from office.

The court is expected to hold its first public hearing later this week.

It is unclear whether Yoon himself will take the stand during the hearings, but protesters have vowed to continue calling for Yoon’s ouster during the court proceedings.

Yoon is also under investigation for alleged insurrection over his failed attempt to place the country under martial law.

He has refused to accept several subpoenas served to him, and investigators have warned that they could issue an arrest warrant if he continues not to respond.

Several senior officials are also being investigated, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and army chief Park An-su.

Additional reporting by Jake Kwon and Hosu Lee in Seoul