Acting President Han vows stability

Dec 16, 2024, 11:02 am

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

South Korea’s Prime Minister Han Duk-soo began his duties as acting president on Saturday to stabilize the government immediately after President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment.

While the Constitutional Court has 180 days to rule on whether Yoon’s impeachment should be upheld or whether he can return to office, Han will assume most of the President’s constitutional powers, including the promulgation of laws, requests for reconsideration, and the appointment and dismissal of public officials and constitutional institutions. He will lead the Cabinet meetings, and will have to take care of foreign affairs and security.

This marks the third time in the nation’s history that a prime minister has taken on presidential duties due to impeachment since the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2004 and the Park Geun-hye administration in 2016.

Acting President Han held a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday. During the 16-minute call, Han vowed to maintain and develop the South Korea-U.S. alliance without wavering.

“All state affairs will be run strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and our government will carry out our diplomatic and security policies without disruption,” Han said, according to his office.

He stressed the importance of solidifying the combined Korea-U.S. defense posture in the face of common challenges, such as the nuclear threat posed by North Korea and the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

In response, Biden voiced confidence in South Korea’s democracy. “The ironclad South Korea-U.S. alliance remains unchanged and we will continue to work together with the South Korean side for the development and strengthening of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation,” he said.

Han also spoke with General Paul LaCamera, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, stressing the establishment of a solid ROK-U.S. combined defense posture in preparation for the North Korean military provocations.

Earlier, Han presided over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting and held a National Security Council meeting at the Seoul Government Complex shortly after Yoon was suspended from his duties.

“The Republic of Korea is facing very tough conditions at home and abroad. The government will do its best to overcome the difficulties and minimize the impact on your daily lives,” Han said in a public address.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) decided not to impeach Han despite accusing him of being complicit in President Yoon’s shock martial law imposition.

“We fear that too many impeachments could lead to more chaos in the country,” DP leader Lee Jae-myung said in a press conference at the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly voted 204 to 85 on Saturday to impeach Yoon, the second such vote in eight days. Three members abstained and eight votes were declared invalid.

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