Senior Advisors to Yoon Offer Resignation Following Key Justice Appointments
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Seoul, Jan 1 (NationPress) Senior advisors of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, among them his chief of staff, submitted their resignation offers on Wednesday, a day after acting President Choi Sang-mok appointed two justices to the Constitutional Court.
Those indicating their willingness to resign include Chung Jin-suk, the presidential chief of staff; National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik; Sung Tae-yoon, chief of staff for policy; and Chang Ho-jin, foreign policy adviser to Yoon, as reported by the presidential office.
Choi appointed two justices on Tuesday, partially addressing the opposition's call to fill three vacancies on the nine-member bench ahead of a ruling on President Yoon's impeachment.
The presidential office expressed disappointment over Choi's appointments, stating that he has overstepped his authority as an interim leader.
According to law, a minimum of six votes is necessary to uphold an impeachment motion, suggesting that adding three more justices could enhance the likelihood of Yoon's impeachment being ratified. The court has a maximum of six months to decide on Yoon's removal from office or reinstatement.
The two newly appointed justices officially commenced their roles on Wednesday, with an inauguration ceremony set for the following day, as reported by the Constitutional Court, according to Yonhap news agency.
Choi, who also holds the position of deputy prime minister for economic affairs and finance minister, reportedly has no intention of accepting the resignation offers from Yoon's senior advisors, according to the finance ministry.
“(Choi) believes that now is a critical time to concentrate on stabilizing the livelihoods of the populace and managing state affairs,” the ministry communicated to reporters. “He does not plan to accept their resignations.”
Yoon, who was impeached by the National Assembly last month, is additionally under investigation for his unsuccessful martial law declaration on December 3.
The resignation proposals from Yoon’s closest aides also follow a Seoul court's issuance of a warrant for Yoon’s detention on Tuesday, marking him as the first sitting South Korean president to confront arrest. Yoon is accused of orchestrating the martial law declaration, inciting an insurrection, and abusing his power.
Concurrently, Kim Tae-kyu, acting chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, also signaled his intention to resign in a clear protest against the justice appointments.
He has been fulfilling the role of the communications watchdog leader since Chairperson Lee Jin-sook was impeached in August.
