South Korea: Acting President Han to Convene Special Cabinet Meeting on December 19
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Seoul, December 18 (NationPress) - South Korea's Acting President Han Duck-soo is scheduled to call an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Thursday, focusing on the potential veto of several contentious bills.
This gathering will assess six bills that were passed by the main opposition Democratic Party last month, including four related to agriculture, the National Assembly Act, and the National Assembly Testimony Appraisal Act.
If Han fails to request a reconsideration of these bills by Saturday, they will automatically become law.
A significant piece of legislation under scrutiny is the Grain Management Act, which mandates government intervention to purchase excess rice to ensure price stability during market volatility, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
A similar proposal was previously vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol in March 2023 and was later discarded following a revote.
The National Assembly Act aims to eliminate the automatic submission of the upcoming year's government budget to the plenary session if it misses the legal deadline, whereas the testimony appraisal act would obligate companies to provide data requested by lawmakers.
The ruling People Power Party has voiced objections to the bills, citing concerns over the financial implications of mandatory rice purchases and the potential for trade data leaks during legislative testimonies.
Additionally, the Acting President is faced with a crucial decision regarding whether to veto two bills proposed by the opposition that call for special investigations into Yoon's brief martial law declaration on December 3 and allegations involving First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
Following Yoon's suspension from presidential responsibilities on December 14, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo swiftly assumed the role of acting President and initiated a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul.
The impeachment trial against President Yoon could extend up to 180 days. Should the impeachment be upheld, Yoon would become the second president to be removed from office after former President Park Geun-hye in 2017, resulting in a snap presidential election within 60 days.
