Han Duck-soo: A Temporary Presidency Ends
The impeachment of Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo deepens South Korea's worst political crisis in recent memory.
On Saturday, December 14th, the South Korean parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, barely two weeks after his controversial decision to declare a state of martial law. It set a historic precedent; President Yoon’s political bloc joined with the opposition to admonish their own party leader in a strident defense of democracy. However, as the world’s eyes turn to the judicial deliberations that will decide Yoon’s fate, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has temporarily assumed the powers of the presidency. A career politician, South Korea’s interim chief executive faced the daunting task of keeping South Korea’s democracy afloat. However, with the news of his own impeachment fresh off the press, that task may have just gotten a lot harder.
Born in Jeonju-si in 1949, Han was briefly conscripted into the South Korean military before graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in economics. While in school, he received the prestigious Chief Justice Award and finished at the top of his class. Han continued his education in economics at Harvard University, where he later graduated with his doctorate in 1984.
After returning to South Korea, Han’s career quickly took off. After serving as Director of the Ajou Trade Division, his climb up the political ladder took him to several different positions. These included ambassador to the United States, minister of finance, and head of the Korea International Trade Association. In 2007, he briefly served as Prime Minister under President Roh Moo-hyun.
In 2022, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol selected Han Duck-soo as his Prime Minister, prompting a return to power that had been decades in the making. At 72, the incoming premier was one of the most experienced politicians to ever hold the post; a key factor in Yoon’s decision. Throughout Yoon’s administration, Han played a key role in shepherding pieces of legislation through the parliamentary system, as is customary for his position.
"The new government must pave the way for an economic rebound amid difficulties both inside and outside of the country and thoroughly prepare for an era in which the economy and national security together emerge as key tasks the government must handle," Yoon told the press after the announcement. "Han is a qualified nominee who can successfully coordinate the Cabinet and address pending national tasks based on his rich experience."
Despite the temporary nature of his position, Han has so far led an active presidency. On December 19, Han vetoed six pieces of legislation, including four agricultural laws and a bill that would have required private companies to hand over personal user data to government officials upon request.
“Our Constitution stipulates that citizens' rights may only be restricted to the minimum extent necessary when there is reasonable cause in legislation. There is a risk of infringing on individuals' rights to privacy and freedom of expression, including the right to protect personal information,” Han told the media.
In late December, leaders in the Democratic Party, South Korea’s main opposition bloc, vowed to open up impeachment proceedings against Han as well. Besides concerns that the then Prime Minister may have been covertly involved in Yoon’s martial declaration, the acting president has refused to move forward with two pieces of legislation aimed at investigating his former boss.
“We will immediately begin impeachment proceedings against acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo," Rep. Park Chan-dae, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, told reporters. "There is no other way to interpret this than (as a tactic) to buy time and prolong the insurrection,"
On Friday (Dec. 27) morning, the South Korean parliament voted to impeach Han with an astonishingly bipartisan 192-0 vote, with the ruling People Power Party, to which both Han and Yoon belong, boycotting the measure. This vote means Han is suspended from executing the duties of the presidency pending a review of the impeachment by the country’s Constitutional Court, which is already reviewing the recent impeachment of Yoon.
However, this leaves South Korea entirely awash in uncharted waters. While Seoul has seen both presidential impeachments and even criminal convictions before, removing the Prime Minister from his presidential post would further complicate the already murky and untested constitutional line of succession. In any case, South Korean law dictates that a presidential election be held within 60 days of a successful impeachment, making it highly unlikely that Han would’ve lasted long in the role regardless.
Effective Friday, Choi Sang-mok, minister of economy and finance, has assumed the duties of both acting president and acting prime minister.