SEOUL: South Korea’s opposition said on Tuesday it would delay a decision to impeach acting President Han Deok-soo until the end of the week.
Earlier, the opposition Democratic Party said it would table an impeachment motion against Han on Tuesday to protest the interim leader’s refusal to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor.
Floor leader Park Chan-dae said, “We have decided to exercise patience in consideration of people’s feelings, and will wait until the 26th (Thursday) to determine whether our demands are met.” ,” said floor leader Park Chan-dae.
The party originally planned for Han on Christmas Eve to issue two special bills investigating corruption allegations surrounding suspended President Yoon Seok-yul, as well as imposing martial law for a short period of time. The deadline was set.
The conservative leader was removed from his duties by parliament on December 14 after briefly declaring martial law 11 days earlier, plunging the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
Yun is now awaiting a ruling from the Constitutional Court, which needs six votes in favor from its nine-member bench to approve the impeachment motion. Three seats are currently vacant, and appointments may be made.
But Han, who stepped in to replace Yun, rejected opposition demands at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, insisting on bilateral agreements for both bills.
Park earlier told a press briefing that Han’s stance “leaves us with no choice but to interpret it as his intention to continue the rebellion by delaying action.”
Yoon is currently under investigation by a joint team of police, Ministry of Defense and anti-corruption investigators.