Draft:Efforts to impeach Choi Sang-mok
On 21 March 2025, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and four other opposition parties submitted a motion in the National Assembly to impeach acting South Korean President and concurrent Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, citing his refusal to appoint justices to the Constitutional Court of Korea.[1] It also charged Choi with abetting the declaration of martial law by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024, failing to appoint a National Assembly-backed independent prosecutor to look into possible insurrection by Yoon despite the legislature passing a resolution to do so,[2] and failing to act on the nomination of Ma Yong-ju to the Supreme Court of Korea.[1] The motion reached the National Assembly plenary on 2 April, by which time Choi had reverted to his previous position as finance minister following Han Duck-soo's reinstatement as acting president and prime minister by the Constitutional Court on 24 March.[3][4]
Per South Korean law, an impeachment motion must be put to a vote between 24 and 72 hours after it is reported to a plenary session. However, the motion may be revoked if the Speaker of the National Assembly does not convene a plenary session after 72 hours.[5]
Background
[edit]Choi Sang-mok became acting president of South Korea following the impeachment of his predecessor, prime minister and acting president Han Duck-soo. As acting president, Choi was criticized by the DPK for failing to act on the appointment of justices to fill three vacancies in the nine-person Constitutional Court, which is hearing the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol.[2] Choi had appointed an additional two justices but did not act immediately on the appointment of a third nominee, Ma Eun-hyuk, to the court, citing a lack of bipartisan consensus.[5] In February 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that Choi had a duty to name a final judge, and that failing to do so would violate the legislature's rights, while at the same time ruling that it had no authority to make Choi take immediate action.[2]
Reactions
[edit]In response to the filing, the People Power Party (PPP) accused DPK leader Lee Jae-myung of destroying national affairs in an act of "terrorism," adding that impeaching Choi, who is also the concurrent deputy prime minister for economic affairs, was equivalent to "abandoning the economy."[6] Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said that the DPK's resort to impeachment "is reminiscent of the plot of 'Designated Survivor'", while former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the process of impeachment "has been reduced to a cunning tool to suspend a public official, even though (the politicians responsible) know the official will not eventually be removed from the post."[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Yi, Wonju (21 March 2025). "(LEAD) Opposition parties introduce motion to impeach acting President Choi". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d Son, Ji-hyoung (21 March 2025). "Opposition parties float motion to impeach acting President Choi Sang-mok". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ^ "Opposition-led motion to impeach finance minister reported to National Assembly". The Korea Times. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ Yi, Whan-woo (24 March 2025). "Finance minister's unprecedented presidential role comes to end". The Korea Times. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Opposition parties introduce motion to impeach acting President Choi". The Korea Times. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
- ^ Yoo, Jee-ho (21 March 2025). "(2nd LD) Opposition parties introduce motion to impeach acting President Choi". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2025.