South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok moves to fill Constitutional Court vacancies, aiming to restore stability amid political turmoil following the impeachment of his predecessors.
South Korea's acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Tuesday he would immediately move to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court in a effort to restore stability after the impeachment of two of his predecessors this month triggered political turmoil.
Finance Minister Choi became acting leader on Friday after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since Dec. 14 when Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended from power after a short-lived attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3.
Choi said he would appoint two Constitutional Court justices immediately, and a third when ruling and opposition parties can agree on nominating a candidate.
"Having succeeded as acting President on December 27, I decided to appoint Constitutional Court justices because of the urgency of ending political uncertainty and social conflict as soon as possible, to stop the possibility of crises in the economy and people's livelihoods," Choi said in a Cabinet meeting.
Credit ratings agency Fitch warned this month that any slowdown from a prolonged political crisis and internal division could lead to a credit rating cut in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
Han was impeached after he declined to immediately appoint three justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court, saying it would exceed his powers as acting president.
The court is set to decide the fate of both Yoon and Han, on whether to oust them from their positions completely or restore their powers.
South Korea's Constitution requires six justices to agree on the ouster of an impeached president. But the nine-member court had three vacancies, so the current justices would have had to vote unanimously to remove Yoon.
The appointment of the justices has been a point of contention between the opposition Democratic Party which controls parliament, and Yoon's ruling People Power Party.
Choi pleaded with the ruling and opposition parties to work with the government to resolve political uncertainties, handle the aftermath of the most severe plane crash on South Korean soil and bolster people's livelihoods.
Lee Jae-myung, South Korea's leading presidential candidate, has vowed to eliminate the "Korea Discount" by reforming shareholder laws and boosting market value, aiming to double the stock index and win support from retail investors.
South Korea’s customs agency has uncovered a surge in efforts to falsely label foreign goods—mostly from China—as South Korean exports in an attempt to bypass steep U.S. tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump, officials said Monday.
South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday to attend the second hearing in his ongoing criminal trial, where he faces serious charges of insurrection.
South Korea aims to delay new U.S. tariffs, prioritizing economic stability amid trade tensions. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok emphasized the importance of reducing uncertainty for export industries, while ongoing talks with the U.S. seek a mutually beneficial resolution.
South Korea and Vietnam agreed on Monday to deepen economic cooperation and accelerate joint efforts to mitigate the impact of looming U.S. tariffs, following a ministerial meeting in Hanoi.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
From the Vatican’s tolling bells to the Eiffel Tower going dark and candlelit vigils in Nairobi, cities on every continent paused this week to mourn Pope Francis, turning plazas, cathedrals and national monuments into a single, global memorial.
Ukraine and Russia have signaled a renewed willingness to pursue peace, as Kyiv prepares for high-level talks in London and Moscow voices support for diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict.
Early voting has begun in Australia ahead of the May 3 federal election, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party maintaining a narrow lead over the conservative opposition coalition led by Peter Dutton.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has sent a heartfelt letter of condolences to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, following the passing of Pope Francis.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 22nd, covering the latest developments you need to know.
From the Vatican’s tolling bells to the Eiffel Tower going dark and candlelit vigils in Nairobi, cities on every continent paused this week to mourn Pope Francis, turning plazas, cathedrals and national monuments into a single, global memorial.
Ukraine and Russia have signaled a renewed willingness to pursue peace, as Kyiv prepares for high-level talks in London and Moscow voices support for diplomatic solutions to the ongoing conflict.
Early voting has begun in Australia ahead of the May 3 federal election, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party maintaining a narrow lead over the conservative opposition coalition led by Peter Dutton.
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