South Korea's ruling party leader resigns amid president impeachment

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
16 Dec 2024 09:22

Upon his official resignation, the PPP will shift to governance under the emergency committee system.

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South Korea's ruling People Power Party's leader Han Dong-hoon arrives to hold his press conference at the party's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP)

Han Dong-hoon, leader of South Korea's ruling People Power Party (PPP), resigned as party chairman on Monday, according to Yonhap news agency.

Previously, Han had supported impeaching the president, despite initially opposing it and advocating for the president's resignation, urging his party's lawmakers to vote according to their "convictions". Ultimately, although the party decided to vote against impeachment, 12 PPP members defied the stance and voted in favor.

"It has become impossible to carry out my duties as party chief due to the collapse of the party's Supreme Council," Yonhap cited the leader as saying, amid the announcement of his resignation.

According to Han, he had made every effort to find a better solution for the nation instead of pursuing impeachment but was ultimately unsuccessful. His resignation comes only 146 days after he was elected chairman of the People Power Party at the party congress on July 23.

Following the parliament's approval of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, Han initially announced his intention to remain as chairman. However, five members of the party's supreme council resigned, resulting in the automatic dissolution of the party's leadership.

After his official resignation, the PPP will shift to governance under the emergency committee system.

South Korea's acting president reassures allies, eases market tensions

South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol following his declaration of martial law on December 3. The vote, with 204 lawmakers in favor, suspends Yoon from his presidential duties while the Constitutional Court determines whether to remove him from office permanently.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, appointed by Yoon, is set to assume the role of acting president of South Korea. The Speaker of Parliament has urged the government and lawmakers to collaborate to stabilize the country’s economy and foreign relations during this challenging time.

The Speaker also emphasized the need for the prompt appointment of Constitutional Court judges to accelerate the judicial process.

Amid assuming his new responsibilities, Han Duck-soo sought to reassure the nation's allies and ease concerns in the financial markets after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and suspended from office the day before over an attempt to impose martial law.

According to statements from the White House and Han's office, Han spoke with US President Joe Biden over the phone.

In a statement from his office, Han said that "South Korea will carry out its foreign and security policies without disruption and strive to ensure the South Korea-US alliance is maintained and developed steadfastly."

To further stabilize the country's leadership, the main opposition party announced it would not pursue impeachment of Han over his role in Yoon's December 3 martial law decision.