South Korean opposition threatens to impeach Acting President over martial law counsel

SEOUL - South Korea’s main opposition party threatened on Dec 23 to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo if he failed to proclaim a law to launch a special counsel investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed bid to impose martial law.

Prime Minister Han has taken over from the suspended Mr Yoon, who was

impeached on Dec 14

and faces a Constitutional Court review on whether to oust him.

With a majority in Parliament, the opposition Democratic Party (DP) passed a Bill this month to appoint

a special counsel to pursue charges

of insurrection, among others, against the conservative Mr Yoon and to investigate his wife over a luxury bag scandal and other allegations.

The party, which has accused Mr Han of aiding Mr Yoon’s martial law attempt and reported him to police, said it would “immediately initiate impeachment proceedings” against the Acting President if the legislation was not promulgated by Dec 24.

“The delays show that the prime minister has no intention of complying with the Constitution, and it is tantamount to admitting that he is acting as a proxy for the insurgent (Mr Yoon),” DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said.

Mr Han is a technocrat who has held leadership roles in South Korean politics for 30 years under conservative and liberal presidents. Mr Yoon appointed him prime minister in 2022.

Mr Han’s office could not immediately be reached for comment. He has previously said he had tried to block Mr Yoon’s martial law declaration, and apologised for failing to do so.

Mr Park also accused Mr Yoon of hampering the Constitutional Court trial by repeatedly refusing to accept court documents. “Any delay in the investigation and impeachment trials is an extension of the insurrection and an act of plotting a second one,” he said.

Mr Yoon’s ruling People Power Party accused the DP of employing “impeachment politics” and taking Mr Han’s political fate “hostage” to push through the special counsel despite multiple ongoing investigations.

A Constitutional Court spokesperson said on Dec 23 it had decided to consider the presidential office’s refusal to receive the documents as delivery completed, and proceed with the trial.

A joint investigative team including police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials has made a second attempt to call Mr Yoon in for questioning on Dec 25, though it was unclear whether he would appear.

Mr Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer helping form Mr Yoon’s defence team, told reporters on Dec 23 that he was not delaying the trial but needed time to prepare, and would respond to any investigations after a decision on the impeachment was made.

Mr Woo Jong-soo, investigation chief of the national police agency, told Parliament on Dec 23 that police had tried to raid Mr Yoon's office twice, but were denied entry. Mr Woo said his team sent a request to preserve evidence, including a secure phone server. REUTERS