Presidential Office on South Korea's Dismissal Proposal: "Diplomatic Activities for National Interest... Sufficient Explanation to the People"

Yoon's Intention to Reject the Dismissal Recommendation Proposal

The Presidential Office stated on the 24th that "Prime Minister Han Deok-su diligently engaged in diplomatic activities for national interests by meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping the day before," in relation to the first-ever passage of a no-confidence motion against a Prime Minister in the history of the constitutional government. This is interpreted as President Yoon Seok-yeol not accepting the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Han.

A Presidential Office official said this to reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, adding, "I believe that this appearance sufficiently answered the public."

On the 23rd, Han Duck-soo, the Prime Minister of South Korea, who visited China to attend the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games, held a bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping, the President of China, at the West Lake State Guesthouse. Photo by the Prime Minister's Office

Earlier, the Democratic Party of Korea submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Han to the National Assembly, holding him responsible for the Itaewon tragedy, the Jamboree mismanagement controversy, and the issue of Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant contaminated water discharge. In response, the National Assembly held a plenary session on the 21st and passed the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Han. Out of 295 members, 175 voted in favor, 116 against, and 4 abstained.

President Yoon previously did not accept no-confidence motions against Foreign Minister Park Jin and Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, which were passed by the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, when asked about his opinion on Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's hunger strike and the approval of the arrest consent bill, the official did not respond. The official said, "The Presidential Office has not commented on investigation or trial situations so far," and added, "Since this matter involves both parties, it is better not to comment."