Lee Juhyo to Serve as Acting President Starting from the 2nd
Choi Sangmok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Strategy and Finance, is attending the comprehensive policy questioning session on the supplementary budget review at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts on the 29th, responding to members' inquiries. 2025.4.29 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Choi Sangmok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Strategy and Finance, expressed his intention to resign and stepped down from his post on the 1st, following the Democratic Party of Korea's move to pursue his impeachment.
After his resignation was accepted, Choi issued a message to the media, stating, "I apologize to the people for having to step down and being unable to continue my duties at a time when domestic and international economic conditions are so severe."
On this day, after the Democratic Party of Korea introduced an impeachment motion against him at a plenary session of the National Assembly, Choi conveyed his intention to resign to Acting President Han at 10:28 p.m., and Han Ducksoo, Acting President and Prime Minister, approved the resignation at 10:44 p.m.
Choi had been attending the National Assembly plenary session for the handling of the supplementary budget bill. After news of his resignation became known, he left the chamber without responding to reporters' questions.
Initially, Choi was expected to serve as Acting President from midnight on the 2nd following the resignation of Han. However, with Choi's own resignation, Lee Juhyo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, assumed the role of Acting President.
The impeachment motion against Choi was initiated by the Democratic Party of Korea in March and was reported to the plenary session on the 2nd of last month before being referred to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The reasons for impeachment included claims that he infringed upon the authority of the National Assembly by failing to appoint Ma Eonhyeok as a Constitutional Court Justice nominee during his previous tenure as Acting President, despite a Constitutional Court decision.
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the impeachment case of Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sangmok on the 16th of last month, but the investigation report was not adopted and the hearing ended without a conclusion.
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