5 opposition parties in South Korea jointly petition to impeach acting President Choi Sang Mok

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and four minor parties on March 21 submitted an impeachment motion against Acting President Choi Sang Mok to the National Assembly.

The reason given by these five opposition parties to impeach Acting President Choi Sang Mok is that he did not appoint a ninth judge to the Constitutional Court even though the court declared this action unconstitutional.

Opposition parties also cited four other reasons for impeaching Mr. Choi, including his alleged involvement in President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.

In December 2024, after both President Yoon Suk Yeol and Acting President Han Duck Soo were impeached and suspended from office by the opposition, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, Choi took over the country.

At that time, Mr. Choi appointed two judges to the Constitutional Court but delayed the appointment of the opposition candidate Judge Ma Eun-hyuk, citing the need for bipartisan consensus.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) has criticized the opposition for the new impeachment move.

PPP interim leader Kweon Seong Dong said the DP was "deliberately trying to sabotage the state" with its move to impeach a slew of officials.

PPP spokesman Shin Dong Wook said the impeachment of acting President Choi, who also serves as deputy prime minister in charge of economic affairs, was tantamount to abandoning the economy.

The PPP believes that impeachment abuse is an act of undermining the Constitution, paralyzing state affairs and obstructing judicial functions.

According to Korean law, after a motion is submitted in a plenary session, the National Assembly must hold a plenary session to vote within 24 to 72 hours.

The opposition's move comes as the Constitutional Court is set to announce its final ruling on the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck Soo on February 24.

However, the Constitutional Court has yet to set a date to announce its verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon.