Han Duck-Soo, who was previously Prime Minister, is accused, among other things, of refusing to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court, which is to try the case against Yoon. All 192 present parliamentarians voted in favor of impeachment proceedings against him, according to AFP. According to the Speaker, he "actively participated in the uprising" - that is, supported Yoon's actions.
This means that Han Duck-Soo's duties as both Prime Minister and Acting President are revoked. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-Mok will take over both roles.
Seized film
The vote was held shortly after South Korean police raided a residence where President Yoon Suk-Yeol was said to have met with high-ranking police officers to discuss his plan to introduce martial law.
The purpose of the raid was to seize material from surveillance cameras to identify those who were in the building hours before Yoon made his shocking announcement, reports news agency Yonhap.
It was on December 3 that Yoon, in a televised address, declared martial law with accompanying war laws, citing that the opposition was paralyzing the government's work. A few hours later, he was forced to back down after the decision was voted down in parliament.
Yoon apologized but was still forced out of the presidency. In mid-December, an impeachment process against him began. It is being driven by the Constitutional Court, which is scheduled to hold its next hearing on January 3, according to Yonhap.
Led soldiers
On Friday, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyon was also charged with suspected involvement in what the opposition has described as a coup attempt signed by the President and his inner circle.
Prosecutors believe that Kim recommended that Yoon declare martial law and led the deployment of soldiers to the National Assembly during the martial law, writes Yonhap.
Both Kim and the two police chiefs are being investigated for attempting to carry out a rebellion.
