VOA新闻杂志2025--Explainer: South Korea's Constitutional Court to Consider Presidents' Ouster

The impeachment² late last month of South Korea's acting³ President Han Duck-soo has deepened political division in the country. He had replaced President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached⁴ earlier in December.

Two impeachments⁵ suspending the country's top two officials in a short period of time has never happened before in South Korea. Now, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, Choi Sang-mok, is the new temporary leader.

When he took power, Choi quickly ordered the military to increase readiness in the event of an act of aggression⁶ by North Korea. Diplomats⁷ communicated with important partners including the United States and Japan.

Duyeon Kim is an expert with the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C. Kim said: "(Han's) impeachment now creates an opportunity for external threats."

How Han was impeached

Before Yoon declared martial⁸ law on December 3, Han Duck-soo was the prime minister and the second highest official in South Korea. Lawmakers impeached Yoon on December 14 over his martial law order.

Han tried to ease the concerns of South Korea's major diplomatic partners and to calm its financial markets. However, he became involved in a political dispute with the opposition⁹ Democratic Party, or DP.

DP lawmakers demanded that Han immediately appoint three justices to seats on the Constitutional Court to rule on Yoon's impeachment. The court normally has nine justices. Currently three seats remain open. Han refused to fill the open seats. He said he would not appoint justices without the approval of both the DP and the governing People Power Party, or PPP.

Choi Jin is director of the Institute of Presidential Leadership based in Seoul. He said Han lacked a good reason not to appoint the justices. But Choi said the DP should not have moved to impeach¹ Han so quickly.

International surprise

Han's impeachment came as South Korean officials told international partners that the situation was returning to normal. Officials in Japan, Europe and the United States had been surprised by Yoon's declaration of martial law.

Duyeon Kim said: "South Korea is now in a far more serious crisis of leadership and governance," adding that, "Han had the experience and credentials¹⁰ to deal with both security and financial crises...."

Kim expressed concern that the leadership situation would harm the economy, culture and industry.

What might happen?

The governing party argues that Han's impeachment is "invalid¹¹" because it is based on a simple majority of the 300-member National Assembly. The PPP says a two-thirds majority is necessary. It has brought a case before the Constitutional Court to consider the impeachment vote of Yoon.

The Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide on the legality of both impeachments.

Han called his impeachment "regrettable," but said he respects the assembly's decision. If Yoon is ousted¹², then a national election must take place within 60 days.

Yoon faces several separate investigations¹³ into possible wrongdoing linked to his martial law declaration. DP leader Lee Jae-myung is favored to win a possible presidential election.

However, Lee faces legal cases as well. He was found guilty of election law violations¹⁴ in November. He is appealing the ruling.

If Lee becomes president, his trials would be suspended because South Korean law does not permit a sitting president to face legal action for most crimes.

I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

Hyung-Jin Kim reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

impeachment -n. (political) an action that is defined in a country's constitution that is part of a process for removing the executive officer from power for a crime or wrongdoing

opportunity -n. a good chance for advancement¹⁵ or progress

external -adj. not inside something but outside of it

invalid -adj. being without foundation or force in fact, truth, or law

credentials -n. (usually pl.) qualities or abilities that make someone able to do something; documents that state a person is permitted to do a certain job

1 impeach   

v.弹劾；检举

参考例句：

• We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
• The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。

2 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

3 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

4 impeached   

v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议

参考例句：

• Elected officials can be impeached. 经过选举产生的官员可以被弹劾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The judge was impeached for taking a bribe. 这个法官被检举接受贿赂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 impeachments   

n.控告( impeachment的名词复数 )；检举；弹劾；怀疑

参考例句：

• The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. 参议院独自拥有审理一切弹劾案的全权。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Clause 6:The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. 6.所有弹劾案，只有参议院有权审理。 来自互联网

6 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

7 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

10 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

11 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

12 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

13 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

14 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

15 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。