Acting president exercises 9th veto; urges respect of Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment verdict

Korea Herald

18-03-2025

Acting President Choi Sang-mok vetoed another opposition-led bill on Tuesday, citing constitutional concerns and potential disruption of the Korea Communications Commission's decision-making process.
During a Cabinet meeting in Seoul, Choi argued that the bill contained 'significant unconstitutional elements' and warned that it could undermine the stability of the KCC's operations. He emphasized that the bill must undergo a revote in parliament, requiring at least 200 votes in the 300-member legislature.
It was the ninth veto he exercised since the Deputy Prime Minister assumed the role of acting president in late December, as both President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo are currently impeached.
Under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, a total of 40 bills were vetoed — including opposition-led bills to launch special counsel probes into scandals involving Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee. None overrode the presidential veto at the National Assembly.
The opposition-led bill, which passed the parliament's plenary session on Feb. 27, is aimed at requiring at least three members of the KCC to be present to make decisions on broadcast governance.
Under the current rule, the KCC may make key decisions with only two out of five members present on the panel.
Currently, the KCC boardroom has Chair Lee Jin-sook and Vice Chair Kim Tae-kyu — both nominated by President Yoon — while the three posts remain vacant as the parliament failed to reach a compromise.
With the two chairs, the KCC has made decisions under Yoon's administration such as replacing board members for public broadcasters, including those critical of Yoon.
The opposition party led the impeachment of Chairperson Lee in August, upon her inauguration in late July. Her impeachment case was overturned with a 4-4 ruling at the Constitutional Court in January.
Regarding the ongoing social division amid lingering deliberation by the Constitutional Court over Yoon's impeachment, Choi urged people to peacefully respect the impeachment verdict regardless of how the ruling unfolds.
"I sincerely ask people again to express their opinion within legal boundaries until the end, and to respect and accept any court decisions," Choi said.
Deputy Prime Minister Choi added that any occurrence of vandalism, arson, or any other physical violence against law enforcement in the wake of the impeachment ruling would be met with "a zero-tolerance principle."
The eight-member judicial bench at the Constitutional Court has yet to announce the date for the final verdict on Yoon's case as of press time. The nation's top court has deliberated on the case after the impeachment trial wrapped up on Feb. 26 with 11 hearings.
No previous impeachment cases involving court deliberation that took longer than two weeks.
Since democratization in 1987, three out of eight South Korean presidents have been impeached by the parliament. The court overturned former President Roh Moo-hyun's case 63 days after the parliament's impeachment. However, former President Park Geun-hye's case was upheld in 91 days. She became the first sitting president to be removed from office.
Choi also thanked citizens for refraining from violence at rallies last past weekend, when tens of thousands of people -- both for and against Yoon's impeachment -- took to the streets of cities including Seoul.
"Before the Constitutional Court's critical ruling, the clash between those supportive of Yoon's removal and those against it is intensifying, which amplifies people's concerns about accidents and physical conflict," Choi said.