Seoul, 24 December 2024 (dpa/MIA) – Amid ongoing political turmoil in South Korea, the country's largest opposition party is reportedly seeking to initiate impeachment proceedings against Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, after the country's president was impeached earlier this month.

Opposition Democratic Party (DP) chairman Park Chan Dae announced the plans on Tuesday during a parliamentary session, the Yonhap news agency reported. Once the DP puts forward a motion of impeachment, the parliament would then have to vote on it.

The opposition accuses acting Han of delaying laws that are intended to help clarify corruption allegations against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.

Yoon was impeached by the parliament in mid-December. Subsequently, Han temporarily took over the official duties while the Constitutional Court makes a final decision regarding Yoon's future.

Impeachment deliberations to begin on Friday

The Constitutional Court can either confirm Yoon's impeachment or declare it unconstitutional. The court has scheduled the start of the hearing for Friday.

The opposition accuses Yoon of a constitutional breach. In early December, he had unexpectedly declared martial law, only to lift it hours later due to massive opposition. Yoon defended his decision by stating that he had declared martial law to protect the nation.

He referred to his political opponents as "state-hostile forces," claiming they would paralyse government operations and disrupt the constitutional order of the country.

Photo: MIA archive