[Breaking] Im Sang-min Minister Impeachment Proposal Passed... First Ever Impeachment of a Cabinet Member in Constitutional History

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] The impeachment motion against Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was passed in the National Assembly plenary session on the afternoon of the 8th, with 293 out of 299 total members voting: 179 in favor, 109 against, and 5 abstentions. This is the first case in constitutional history where an impeachment motion against a Cabinet member has been passed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Except for the president, an impeachment motion requires the support of at least one-third (100 members) of the total National Assembly members to be proposed, and a majority (150 members) of the total members to be approved.

On the 7th, the three opposition parties?the Democratic Party, the Justice Party, and the Basic Income Party?jointly proposed the impeachment motion against Minister Lee with 173 signatures, and on this day, 179 members voted in favor in a secret ballot, passing the motion.

Originally, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo planned to submit the impeachment motion after the government questioning session, but the Democratic Party pushed for a change in the agenda to prioritize the impeachment motion. With the passage of the impeachment motion against Minister Lee on this day, his duties were immediately suspended. It is expected that Vice Minister Han Chang-seop will take over the duties in an acting capacity.