South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets

Foreign and security policies will stay, he tells Biden following Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL - South Korean Acting President Han Duck-soo on Dec 15 moved to reassure the country's allies and calm financial markets, a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and suspended from his duties over a martial law attempt.

Mr. Han spoke with US President Joe Biden by phone, said the White House and Mr. Han's office.

"South Korea will carry out its foreign and security policies without disruption, and strive to ensure the South Korea-US alliance is maintained and developed steadfastly," Mr. Han said, according to a statement from his office.

In a further attempt to stabilize the country's leadership, the main opposition party announced it would not seek to impeach Mr. Han for his involvement in Mr. Yoon's Dec 3 martial law decision.

"Given that the Prime Minister has already been confirmed as acting president and considering that excessive impeachments could lead to confusion in national governance, we have decided not to proceed with impeachment procedures," Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told reporters.

Prosecutors said Mr. Yoon did not appear for questioning in a criminal investigation into his martial law bid on the morning of Dec 15 in response to a summons, and they promised to issue another order, Yonhap news agency reported.

Mr. Han, a long-time technocrat picked by Mr. Yoon as prime minister, was elevated to acting president in accordance with the Constitution while Mr. Yoon's case moves to the Constitutional Court.

Demonstrators seeking Mr. Yoon's ouster braved the cold to throng the streets outside the National Assembly building where he was impeached.