Impeachment trial on PM, Acting President Han Duck-soo to begin Wednesday

The Constitutional Court will hold the first impeachment trial hearing for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and a separate hearing on the dispute over whether voting standards to impeach him were valid.

The opposition-led parliament voted to remove him from office in December, after Han, as Acting President, refused to approve Constitutional Court justices until a bipartisan agreement was reached on the candidates.

Han has also shown resistance to various opposition-led bills railroaded through parliament.

The dispute case was filed by the ruling People Power Party, as it clashed with the opposition over the required number of votes to impeach Han Duck-soo.

The opposition argues that the standard for impeaching a cabinet minister should apply, requiring a simple majority.

The ruling party says as Han was Acting President, the same threshold as a presidential impeachment should have applied, which requires a two-thirds majority.

The first trial hearing will begin at 2 PM. The authority dispute hearing is at 4 PM.