(Bloomberg) -- South Korea’s Acting President Han Duck-soo defied opposition pressure to approve the appointment of court judges that might increase the likelihood of removing President Yoon Suk Yeol from power.
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In a move that risks his own impeachment and an escalation of the political tensions, Han said Thursday in a nationally televised address that he would hold off on approving three judges nominated by parliament.
Han said the right to approve the judges rests with the president of the nation. Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae told reporters in response that his party would immediately file an impeachment motion against the prime minister.
“Consensus must first be reached in the National Assembly,” Han said in his address. “If the parties agree and submit a proposal, I will immediately appoint the Constitutional Court judges.”
The acting president spoke shortly before parliament was set to nominate judges to fill three vacant seats in the nine-justice Constitutional Court. The law requires at least six judges to confirm the ouster of Yoon, who was impeached earlier this month for his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3.
The DP has sought to fill the remaining seats quickly, a move that would lower the bar for removing Yoon to two-thirds of the judges from the current 100%. Yoon’s People Power Party had called on Han to refuse to appoint them. The party boycotted confirmation hearings for the nominees.
The South Korean won extended earlier losses, trading 0.6% weaker at 1,465.55 per dollar mid afternoon following Han’s speech.
The country is still reeling from Yoon’s martial law decree issued early this month. While his decision was rescinded within hours, it sparked political turmoil, market volatility and a wave of protests, ultimately leading to Yoon’s impeachment.
Han has led the country since the opposition-controlled parliament suspended Yoon from power with a vote on Dec. 14. Yoon has vowed to fight for his return to power in the Constitutional Court, which has until June to make its decision.
The DP will convene a vote to impeach Han on Friday, the Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper reported, citing an official. Should he be suspended from power, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok would step in as South Korea’s acting president.
From the eruption of the political turmoil, the Bank of Korea and government have vowed to provide “unlimited liquidity” if necessary as they seek to reassure market participants and cushion the economic fallout.