South Korea dismisses acting president Han Duck-soo

South Korean lawmakers voted on Friday to remove interim President Han Duck-soo, the second ouster of a head of state this month after a brief martial decree on December 3. according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next to assume the interim presidency, according to South Korean law.

Han’s predecessor, President Yoon Suk Yeol, was charged just two weeks beforeafter imposing martial law for six hours earlier this month for the first time since the 1979 military coup, citing the need to “protect the constitutional order based on freedom and eradicate the shameful pro-North Korea anti-state groups, which are stealing the freedom and happiness of our people”, according to NBC News.

Opposition lawmakers filed the motion against Han on Thursday over the acting president’s reluctance to immediately appoint three judges to the Constitutional Court, which is preparing to begin deliberations on whether to confirm Yoon’s impeachment or reinstate him. Han’s ruling Power People’s Party has argued that filling vacancies on the Constitutional Court exceeds Han’s term as acting president.

A simple majority of 151 votes, rather than two-thirds of parliamentary support, was needed to approve Friday’s vote. The assembly approved Han’s impeachment motion with 192 votes in favor and 0 against, while ruling party lawmakers boycotted the vote, according to a Yonhap update translated by Google. The agency reports that acting Han has said he will respect Friday’s decision.

Han’s own impeachment plunges South Korea into renewed political turbulence, shaking the foundations of its democratic success story and sending the Korean won down 0.40% to 1,472.22 after Friday’s news. South Korea Kospi fell 1.02% during Friday’s session.

This breaking news is being updated.