[Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment] Korean Acting President: "New Presidential Election Must Be Conducted Fairly and Impartially"

Han Duck-soo Holds Emergency Cabinet Meeting
"Maintain Political Neutrality and Actively Cooperate with the National Election Commission"
Han to Designate Presidential Election Date by the 14th

Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo urged the Cabinet members on the 4th, saying, "Let us work together to ensure that a new president is elected through a fair election so that the lives of the people and the economy do not waver."

Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speaking at the Cabinet Members Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the same day, Acting President Han held an emergency meeting with Cabinet members at the Government Seoul Office immediately after the dismissal of President Yoon Seok-yeol, stating, "We must ensure that the election to select a new president within 60 days is conducted fairly and transparently."

Acting President Han said, "Relevant ministries should maintain political neutrality while actively cooperating with and generously supporting the National Election Commission," adding, "the time we have is not very long."

He emphasized, "We are now facing a very serious situation with the vacancy of the presidency," and said, "Our most important duty right now is to minimize the anxiety and confusion that the people may be feeling."

He continued, "To this end, I ask all Cabinet members and affiliated public officials to devote their utmost efforts to their duties so that there is no gap in state affairs during the remaining time," and "especially, I ask for your utmost efforts to resolve urgent issues such as maintaining public order during large-scale rallies and protests related to the mutual tariff responses announced by the Trump administration and the impeachment decision."

With the dismissal ruling against President Yoon, Acting President Han is expected to begin preparations for the next presidential election in earnest.

The Constitution stipulates that a presidential election must be held within 60 days after a vacancy in the presidency. Currently, the most likely date for the election is June 3, which fully utilizes the 60-day period. According to the Public Official Election Act, the election date must be announced at least 50 days before the election day, so Acting President Han must designate the election date by the 14th.