Finance Minister Choi resigns before parliament reports his impeachment motion

Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok resigned late Thursday, just minutes before the National Assembly was set to vote on a motion to impeach him.

“I apologize to the people that I am unable to continue my duties amid grave internal and external economic conditions,” Choi said in a statement released by the finance ministry.

Outgoing acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is widely expected to run in the upcoming presidential election in June, immediately accepted Choi’s resignation.

Following Choi’s resignation, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik halted proceedings on the impeachment motion vote, saying the government had been informed of Choi’s dismissal.

Before the voting started, the members of the People Power Party (PPP) left the parliamentary hall in protest against the impeachment motion tabled by the Democratic Party (DP).

South Korea has seen a string of temporary leadership changes in recent months, triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law in December and his removal from office on April 4.

Choi had initially stepped into the interim presidential role on Dec. 27, after acting President Han was impeached by the DP-controlled National Assembly.

The latest impeachment motion, led by the DP, accused Choi — who was then serving as acting president — of delaying the appointment of the ninth justice to the Constitutional Court, among other allegations.

With Choi stepping down, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho will assume the role of acting president at midnight Thursday.

Choi had been set to again resume the interim leadership role following Han’s resignation.