Han was expected to navigate the nation out of political turmoil, but opposition MPs accused him of refusing to facilitate Yoon’s impeachment process.
Acting president Han Duck-soo has been impeached by South Korea’s parliament, deepening the country’s political crisis just two weeks after the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
A total of 192 lawmakers voted in favour of Han’s impeachment, exceeding the required 151 votes. Han had assumed office after Yoon’s impeachment on 3 December, which followed his failed attempt to impose martial law, BBC reports.
Han was expected to navigate the nation out of political turmoil, but opposition MPs accused him of refusing to facilitate Yoon’s impeachment process.
On Friday, parliament descended into chaos as ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers protested the vote, chanting “invalid!” and “abuse of power!”
“I respect the decision of the National Assembly,” Han said after the vote. “I will wait for the Constitutional Court's decision.”
Finance minister Choi Sang-mok is set to act as interim president while the Constitutional Court reviews the case.
The ongoing uncertainty has caused the Korean won to plunge to its lowest value against the dollar since the global financial crisis.