Amid ongoing political turmoil in South Korea, the country’s largest opposition party is said to be seeking to begin impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Han Dak-soo, after the country’s president was removed earlier this month.
Opposition Democratic Party Chairman Park Chan-dae announced the plans on Tuesday during a parliamentary session, Yonhap News Agency reported. Once the Democratic Party submits a motion to impeach him, Parliament will then have to vote on it.
The opposition accuses Acting Han of delaying laws aimed at helping clarify corruption allegations against ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife.
Yoon was impeached by Parliament in mid-December. Afterwards, Han assumed official duties temporarily while the Constitutional Court made a final decision on Yoon’s future.
Deliberations regarding his dismissal begin on Friday
The Constitutional Court can either confirm Yoon’s impeachment or declare it unconstitutional. The court set the start date for the hearing on Friday.
The opposition accuses Yoon of violating the constitution. In early December, he unexpectedly declared martial law, but lifted it hours later due to widespread opposition. Yoon defended his decision by saying that he declared martial law to protect the nation.
He referred to his political opponents as “anti-state forces,” claiming that they would paralyze government operations and disrupt the country’s constitutional order.
