The Minister of Economy, Choi Sang-mok, has just assumed the interim presidency of South Korea this Friday (27).
The inauguration comes after South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
The motion led by opposition parties was approved with 192 of 300 votes from parliamentarians. To impeach Han, 150 votes were needed, equivalent to half the seats in parliament.
According to South Korean law, in the event of the prime minister’s resignation or impeachment as interim president, the Minister of Economy is next in line to take over.
Choi holds a bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University’s law school, where Yoon Suk-yeol also studied at the same time.
His career in government service was primarily in the economy ministry, overseeing the formulation of economic policies, financial market policies and foreign trade relations.
On Friday, the minister stated that the impeachment of the country’s interim president would seriously damage the country’s economic credibility, and asked political parties to withdraw the plan.
