South Korea’s political crisis deepened on Friday as opposition parties filed a motion to impeach acting President Choi Sang-mok, escalating tensions in an already divided government.
The move, led by the majority Democratic Party, follows Choi’s repeated vetoing of bills and refusal to appoint a liberal-leaning Constitutional Court justice approved by parliament.
Choi, who also serves as finance minister, took office after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over a controversial martial law declaration in December.
The Constitutional Court is currently deliberating on whether to permanently remove Yoon from office or reinstate him, with a ruling expected soon. If Yoon is ousted, South Korea will be required to hold a new presidential election within 60 days.
The Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, has pushed multiple impeachment motions against Yoon administration officials. Experts suggest that the opposition’s goal is to secure an early election by shifting the court’s balance in their favour.
Recent polls indicate that 58% of South Koreans support Yoon’s removal, though public sentiment has softened since the immediate aftermath of his martial law decree.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was also impeached while serving as acting president, awaits a court ruling on Monday that could see him reinstated and replacing Choi as interim leader.
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