Dramatic Turn in South Korea: President Impeached, New Acting President Named
The South Korean parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of impeaching President Park Geun-hye, with 234 out of 300 lawmakers supporting the motion. Not a single MP voted against it, signaling a united front against the embattled president.
The impeachment motion was introduced by the opposition Democratic Party, citing Park’s refusal to nominate three justices for the Constitutional Court. The Court will now decide whether to uphold or nullify the impeachment of her predecessor, Park’s mentor, former President Chun Doo-hwan.
Confirming previous reports, on December 14, the South Korean parliament voted to impeach President Park over her alleged role in the corruption scandal involving her confidante, Choi Soon-sil. According to the constitution, the president’s powers were temporarily transferred to Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.
With the president’s removal, Vice Premier and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan has assumed the role of acting president. This unprecedented political drama continues to unfold in South Korea, with the nation eagerly awaiting the Constitutional Court’s final decision, which could take up to six months.
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