South Korea's main opposition party, the Democratic Party, announced on Friday its plan to introduce a motion to impeach Acting President Choi Sang-mok.
The move comes in response to Choi’s refusal to appoint a ninth judge to the Constitutional Court, a decision that has sparked a fierce political battle.
Choi, who appointed two judges to the court in late December, has withheld approval for Ma Eun-hyeok, the judge nominated by the opposition.
He cited the need for bipartisan consensus as his reason for delaying the appointment. However, the Democratic Party has strongly condemned this stance, arguing that Choi's refusal violates a Constitutional Court ruling, which deemed his inaction unconstitutional and an infringement on the National Assembly’s authority.
The opposition’s attempt to remove Choi coincides with an impending court ruling on Monday regarding the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who faces allegations related to the imposition of martial law. Meanwhile, no date has been set for the ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Yoon’s impeachment, which was passed by parliament, requires the approval of at least six out of nine Constitutional Court judges. However, the court currently operates with only eight members, making the appointment of a ninth judge crucial in determining the president’s fate.
In a statement to journalists, the Democratic Party confirmed that its officials would submit the impeachment motion to the National Assembly at 2:00 PM local time.
Some analysts argue that the push to remove Choi may lose significance if the court rules against Prime Minister Han’s impeachment. Such an outcome would allow Han to resume his role as both prime minister and acting president, potentially altering the political landscape.
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