SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - South Korea entered unfamiliar political territory on Friday as Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president, following the sudden resignations of both Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok.
Han, who had been serving as acting president, stepped down to run in the upcoming presidential election. Choi, the expected successor, also resigned after the Democratic Party (DP)-led National Assembly introduced an impeachment motion against him.
This unprecedented succession crisis stems from the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol in early April, after he abruptly declared emergency martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The controversial move, which included the deployment of military forces to the National Assembly, triggered public outrage and swift backlash from the opposition.
Yoon’s impeachment was followed by a cascade of political instability, leading to a series of acting leadership appointments.
With both Han and Choi out of the picture, Lee Ju-ho, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, took on the role of acting head of state as of midnight Friday.
The rare situation, where the acting president, his presumptive successor, and the eventual successor were all temporary officeholders, has sparked constitutional debate. Critics have questioned the legality of cabinet meetings given the reduced number of ministers, but government officials say current conditions still meet constitutional requirements.
Lee’s first move as acting president was to convene an emergency National Security Council meeting, signaling continuity in leadership amid the transition. He pledged to uphold political stability and ensure that the presidential election, set for June 3, proceeds in a fair and orderly manner.
A veteran in education policy, Lee previously served as education minister under the Lee Myung-bak administration and returned to the post in 2022 under President Yoon Suk Yeol. Known for his reform-minded approach and background in economics, he has long been a fixture in government education circles.
With just weeks to go until voters head to the polls, the fast-moving leadership shuffle underscores the uncertainty and fluidity of South Korea’s political landscape at a pivotal moment.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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