[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Minister Lee Jong-seop's Resignation Announcement... What's Behind It?

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop is reported to have tendered his resignation on the 12th. The resignation appears to be aimed at minimizing the "defense vacuum" amid opposition parties pushing for his impeachment over responsibility for the death of Marine Corps Corporal Chae Mo.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A senior ruling party official said on the same day, "I understand that Minister Lee has submitted his resignation," adding, "Given the recent talks of impeachment in the political sphere, it is believed that he made this decision out of concern for a security vacuum as a minister."

Minister Lee’s resignation seems to take into account current legal provisions. According to Article 134, Paragraph 2 of the National Assembly Act, the president, who holds the power of appointment, cannot accept the resignation or dismiss a person who has been impeached. If the ruling Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the National Assembly, forcibly passes an impeachment motion against Minister Lee, the president’s appointment authority could be suspended for several months until the Constitutional Court issues a ruling.

An impeachment motion against a Cabinet member requires the support of at least one-third (100 members) of the total members to be proposed and a majority (150 members) to be approved. Since the Democratic Party holds a majority in the Assembly, it can pass the impeachment motion unilaterally. Concerns about the restriction of the president’s appointment authority following the passage of an impeachment motion in the National Assembly appear to be shared both inside and outside the ruling party.

On the same day, People Power Party’s chief spokesperson Yoo Sang-beom responded on the radio to the question, "Can President Yoon accept the minister’s resignation before the nominee for the successor minister goes through a confirmation hearing and receives the appointment letter?" by saying, "That option can also be considered."

Some speculate that it is uncertain whether the Democratic Party will actually file the impeachment motion and push it through the plenary session of the National Assembly despite opposition from the ruling party. Given the severe security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula, including North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un’s expected summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss weapons support soon, there could be accountability concerns for causing a defense vacuum.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.