The interim leader is committed to helping Korea overcome political instability

“Reducing government chaos is extremely important at this time. The government will spare no effort to overcome the current period of instability,” Mr. Choi Sang-mok declared on December 27. .

The statement was made after Mr. Choi became acting President and acting Prime Minister of South Korea, replacing Mr. Han Duck-soo who was just impeached by the National Assembly earlier that day. Mr. Choi still holds the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, which he has held since December 2023.

The new Korean leader apologized as a member of the cabinet for contributing to the current chaotic situation. He is facing a lot of pressure because he participated in the cabinet meeting held right before President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered martial law on the night of December 3.

Acting President Choi also called on the South Korean military to maintain high vigilance against the possibility of “provocative actions” from North Korea.

“It is necessary to maintain a state of readiness to prevent North Korea from taking any rash actions, as well as maintain a solid security stance based on the strong alliance between South Korea and the United States,” he said.

According to the Korean Ministry of Finance, Mr. Choi had a phone call with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to reaffirm the strong alliance between the US and South Korea.

He also asked Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to maintain close communication channels with partner countries, emphasizing the importance of assuring the international community that South Korea’s foreign policy will not change, International exchange and trade activities will not be interrupted.

The new South Korean leader asked his subordinates to ensure public order, strengthen the disaster response system, prioritize emergency medical plans for winter and keep the emergency medical system operating smoothly. minus.

Mr. Han was impeached by the National Assembly on charges of “abetting” President Yoon’s martial law order and refusing to appoint three Constitutional Court judges. President Yoon was impeached and suspended from power by the Korean parliament on December 14.

Mr. Han’s case is the first time a Korean prime minister and acting president has been impeached in the country’s history. Opposition lawmakers voted to impeach Mr. Han at the suggestion of Mr. Choi, who warned that “the country’s economy and reputation in the international arena must not be destabilized again.” Mr. Choi does not belong to any political party.