South Korea's Opposition Threatens Impeachment of Acting President

In a political storm, South Korea's main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has threatened to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo. This comes as the country is dealing with the aftermath of President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief declaration of martial law. The Democratic Party, which holds a majority in parliament, wants independent investigators to look into Yoon's actions and allegations against his wife. They've given Han until Tuesday to approve these investigators. Impeaching Han could make the political situation worse and worry neighboring countries. Han, the second-in-command, has taken over presidential powers since Yoon's impeachment. If Han is impeached, the finance minister would be next in line. The Democratic Party has criticized Han for vetoing several of their bills, including one about agriculture. They've also asked him to quickly fill empty seats on the Constitutional Court, which is reviewing Yoon's impeachment.

The court needs at least six justices to convict Yoon, and there are three empty seats. The Democratic Party wants Han to approve bills for special prosecutors to investigate Yoon for rebellion and his wife for corruption. However, Han didn't add these bills to Tuesday's Cabinet Council meeting agenda, suggesting more talks between the ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said there's no room for negotiation about investigating Yoon. He warned that Han could be remembered as a disgraceful figure if he doesn't act. Meanwhile, Yoon's defense minister, police chief, and other senior military officers have been arrested for their role in a standoff at the National Assembly. The governing People Power Party criticized the opposition's impeachment threats, saying they interfere with Han's authority. There's legal uncertainty about impeaching an acting president. The Democratic Party needs two-thirds of the vote, which means they need support from other parties. The Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide Yoon's fate. If he's removed, a national election must happen within two months.

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