Seoul, South Korea – In a dramatic escalation of South Korea's political turmoil, lawmakers have impeached acting President Han Duck-soo, marking the second impeachment of a head of state in just two weeks. The political crisis began with President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial declaration of martial law, which led to his suspension from office on December 14. Han took over as acting president, but opposition lawmakers quickly moved to remove him, accusing him of obstructing a crucial investigation and failing to appoint three new judges to the constitutional court.

In Friday's vote, all 192 members of parliament present voted in favor of Han's removal. Lawmakers claimed that Han had intentionally blocked the investigation into those involved in the insurrection and violated his duties to uphold the law. With the constitutional court set to decide the validity of Yoon’s removal, the political instability continues to deepen.

The court now has 180 days to decide whether Yoon's removal will be permanent. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed the role of acting president. Choi, who is also tasked with managing South Korea's economy, faces a precarious situation. If he refuses to appoint the new constitutional judges, he too could face impeachment, further exacerbating the political chaos.

Despite Choi’s extensive experience in the finance ministry, political analysts caution that his ability to handle multiple roles amid the crisis will be put to the test. Lawmakers are divided on the impeachment process. The opposition, which gained a majority in April's parliamentary elections, argued that only a simple majority was needed for Han's impeachment, while the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) countered that a two-thirds majority should have been required.

Simultaneously, the constitutional court is deliberating on the legality of President Yoon’s impeachment. The court has focused its attention on Yoon's martial law declaration, which involved mobilizing military and police forces to blockade parliament. While the court processes both Yoon’s and Han’s impeachments, the country's political future hangs in the balance, with the urgency of resolving the matter mounting amid ongoing unrest.

As the constitutional court continues its deliberations, South Korea faces an uncertain future with the potential for even more political upheaval.