"No Significant Violations of Constitution or Laws Found... De Facto Deputy Minister Not Reviewed"
[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The Presidential Office criticized the impeachment motion against Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, led by the Democratic Party of Korea, which was passed on the 8th, calling it "an abandonment of parliamentary principles and a shameful chapter in legislative history." The office added, "If state affairs are not conducted according to the Constitution and laws, we expect correction from another branch," and said it would await the Constitutional Court's decision.
A senior official from the Presidential Office told reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office building that afternoon, "Since the minister's position is now vacant, the First Vice Minister and the head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters will lead the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to ensure there is no gap in state affairs," adding, "Although it is the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's responsibility, the government intends to lead well so that other public officials are not unsettled."
However, the official also stated, "All state affairs in the Republic of Korea, including the president, the legislature, and the judiciary, must be conducted according to the Constitution and laws," and added, "Impeachment of a Cabinet member can only occur when there is a serious violation of the Constitution or laws, but I believe it has not been revealed that this minister seriously violated any Constitution or laws." The official emphasized, "The system operates under the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and if one branch does not conduct state affairs according to the Constitution and laws, we expect correction from another branch." This effectively expresses hope for the Constitutional Court to dismiss the case. The Constitutional Court is expected to make a final decision within the legally prescribed 180-day trial period after the delivery of the impeachment resolution, through the deliberation of all nine justices. An impeachment decision requires the approval of at least six justices.
Regarding the theory of appointing a powerful vice minister, the official drew a line, saying, "Such consideration is not currently underway." There have been reports that the Presidential Office is contemplating appointing a 'powerful vice minister' who can fill the minister's work gap.
That afternoon, in the National Assembly, the impeachment motion against Minister Lee was passed in the plenary session with 293 out of 299 members present 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 passed. Except for the president, an impeachment motion requires the support of at least one-third (100 members) of the total members to be proposed and a majority (150 members) of the total members to pass.
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 it was approved with 179 votes in a secret ballot that day. Initially, 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, Minister Lee's duties were immediately suspended. Vice Minister Han Chang-seop is expected to take over the duties in an acting capacity.
Earlier, Lee Jin-bok, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, told reporters at the National Assembly, "There is nothing that violates the Constitution or laws, so I think this action is inappropriate."
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