South Korea’s opposition: No proceedings against interim president

State crisis

South Korea’s opposition: No proceedings against interim president

President Yoon Suk Yeol faces impeachment proceedings. Prime Minister Han Duck Soo is temporarily running the business. The opposition previously had other plans.

After the South Korean parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol, the opposition is refraining from investigating acting President Han Duck Soo. There are currently no plans to initiate such a procedure, said opposition leader Lee Jae Myung of the Democratic Party (DP).

According to media reports, Lee’s party sought a complaint against Han after Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law in early December. The largest opposition party had also called for an investigation into Han and his role in the case.

Yoon unexpectedly imposed martial law in the midst of a budget dispute with the opposition and came under massive criticism for it. A first motion for impeachment failed a week ago. With the National Assembly’s decision, Yoon was relieved of his duties – at least for the time being.

Meanwhile, Han assured US President Joe Biden in a telephone call that diplomatic relations and security policy would continue without interruption. The alliance between South Korea and the United States will be maintained without wavering, the 75-year-old said, according to the official Yonhap news agency.

The United States, as an important ally of the East Asian country, also expressed its willingness to advance common interests with Han, as US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.