Senior advisers to ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol offered mass resignations on Wednesday, a day after his office expressed regret over Acting President Choi Sang-mok’s approval of the appointment of two new judges to the court that will decide Yoon’s fate. .
Yoon’s chief of staff, policy chief, national security adviser, special adviser on foreign affairs and security, and all other senior secretaries have resigned, his office said in a statement, without elaborating.
Choi said he would not accept their resignations because the priority now is improving the economy and stabilizing state affairs, his office said.
The advisers repeatedly expressed their intention to resign after Yoon’s failed attempt to declare martial law on Dec. 3, but their resignations were not accepted, said a presidential official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of political sensitivities.
According to the same official, senior secretaries have been assisting Choi since he took over as acting president. Two other officials said the advisers do not participate in day-to-day government operations, but are required to report to Choi and attend meetings when necessary.
The latest offer of resignations came a day after Choi’s surprise approval to fill two vacancies on the Constitutional Court hearing Yoon’s impeachment case.
That increased the number of judges to eight in the nine-judge court. Any decision in Yoon’s case requires the concurrence of at least six judges.
Yoon’s ruling party, the People’s Power Party, criticized Choi’s decision as “dogmatic” and insufficiently consulted.
Finance Minister Choi took over as acting president on Friday following the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since Dec. 14 when Yoon was suspended.
Yoon faces investigations for allegedly leading the rebellion, and the Seoul District Court on Tuesday authorized his arrest, the first for a sitting president.
(Vijesti.ba)
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