Kim Min-seok: "I will impeach Cabinet members who do not appoint Constitutional Court justices one by one"

Kim Min-seok "Immediate Impeachment Action Needed for Acting President"
"If Judge Appointment Process Does Not Proceed, Impeachment Will Continue"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting president, stated on the 26th that he would withhold the appointment of three Constitutional Court justices until an agreement is reached between the ruling and opposition parties. In response, Kim Min-seok, senior supreme council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "Immediate impeachment action is necessary." He also stated, "If the cabinet members who will later serve as acting heads do not proceed with the appointment process of the Constitutional Court justices, we will continue to initiate impeachment procedures."

Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

At the emergency action rally titled "Emergency Action for the Resignation of Han Duck-soo, the Constitutional Destroyer Extending the Rebellion," held in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, that evening, Senior Supreme Council Member Kim said, "Han Duck-soo, the acting prime minister who is the pinnacle of the cabinet, how can he not fill the six seats to make the Constitutional Court complete with nine justices?" He criticized, "In four months, the number of Constitutional Court justices will be reduced to four. Is the acting prime minister trying to take over on behalf of President Yoon Seok-yeol?"

He emphasized, "We will impeach (the cabinet members who withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court justices) one by one." If the acting prime minister Han's duties are suspended, the next acting head will be Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Strategy and Finance. If Deputy Prime Minister Choi is impeached, the next will be Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, followed by Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Cho Tae-yeol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kim Young-ho of the Ministry of Unification, in that order.

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. [Photo by Government Complex Press Photographers Group]

Earlier, Acting Prime Minister Han said in a public address, "The acting president should focus on stable state administration so that the country can overcome the crisis, but should refrain from exercising the president's significant inherent powers, including the appointment of constitutional institutions, as this is the consistent spirit contained in our constitution and laws." He added, "I will withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court justices until the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement and submit a proposal."

In response, the People Power Party said, "Since it is the acting president's decision, we have no choice but to respect it," while the Democratic Party criticized it as "a statement acknowledging the acting president as an acting rebel." Speaker Woo Won-shik pointed out, "Delaying or refusing the appointment of Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly is unjustifiable." He emphasized, "The president's appointment of the three justices elected by the National Assembly and the three nominated by the Chief Justice among the nine Constitutional Court justices is a formal and procedural process. Acting Prime Minister Han must fulfill his responsibilities in accordance with the constitution, laws, and common sense of the people."

On the afternoon of the 26th, citizens attending the 'Han Deok-su Resignation Emergency Action' rally across from the Government Seoul Office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, are shouting slogans. Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, the Democratic Party immediately submitted an impeachment motion against Acting Prime Minister Han to the plenary session. Accordingly, a vote on impeachment is expected to take place on the 27th, with attention focused on the quorum required for approval. The Democratic Party holds the position that a majority of the total members, 151, is required, equivalent to the prime minister, while the People Power Party insists that two-thirds of the total members, 200, must approve for it to pass. Speaker Woo said, "The primary judgment lies with the Speaker of the National Assembly."