In this episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, Jeongmin and John explore the mounting political crisis surrounding Acting President Han Duck-soo. The discussion begins with Han’s decision to delay appointing Constitutional Court justices until bipartisan agreement is reached, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition.

The duo then unpacks the main opposition Democratic Party’s (DP) push to pass an impeachment bill against Han and the escalating debate between the DP and the ruling People Power Party over the number of parliamentary votes required to remove him from office — 151 or 200.

Looking ahead, Jeongmin and John discuss the possibility that the Constitutional Court could decide to prioritize resolving the procedural dispute over Han’s impeachment before proceeding with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment. Additionally, South Korea’s ongoing political stability will likely lead to increased economic volatility.

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) and Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner), diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring ROK politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024.

Audio edited by Gaby Magnuson