Rep. Han also vetoed several bills led by the opposition party, including a bill proposing a special investigation into Rep. Yoon’s declaration of martial law.
The impeachment bill is expected to be voted on within the next 24 to 72 hours.
For this to succeed, 151 out of 300 members of the National Assembly must vote in favor.
Currently, the Democratic Party occupies 170 of the 300 seats in the National Assembly. The opposition party holds a total of 192 seats.
The opposition party hoped that one lawmaker would pass the bill without interfering with the senior president.
However, he took a firm stance and deepened the political conflict.
Rep. Han ended yesterday’s Cabinet meeting without considering two bills proposed by the opposition party calling for the declaration of martial law and a special prosecutor’s investigation into allegations of corruption against First Lady Kim Kun-hee.
“We did not include it on the agenda to give the ruling and opposition parties more time to compromise,” he said.
However, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, criticized the move for “buying time and prolonging the civil war.”
“We clearly warned that it is entirely up to Prime Minister Han Deok-soo whether he will remain in history as a disgrace as a puppet of Yoon Seok-yeol, the mastermind of the civil war, or as a public official who faithfully carried out the task.” President Park said in a televised statement. He said this at a party meeting.
And one lawmaker said Thursday that he would not appoint the three judges nominated by the opposition-dominated National Assembly to the Constitutional Court, which is considering whether to impeach President Yoon, unless the ruling and opposition parties reach an agreement.
In response, President Park said, “It has become clear that Han Deok-soo is neither qualified nor willing to protect the Constitution,” adding that the opposition party would “immediately” propose an impeachment bill.
The Grand National Party’s People Power Party stated that the opposition party’s threats interfered with Prime Minister Han’s “legitimate exercise of authority,” and a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office criticized the threats as “very regrettable.”
After Chairman Yoon retired early this month, Mr. Han took over as interim chairman. If the National Assembly votes to impeach a member, Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok becomes the next candidate.
The latest development in South Korea’s political turmoil comes as Seoul’s Constitutional Court deliberates whether to disqualify President Yoon from his permanent position.
The court is scheduled to hold its first public arguments later this week.
It is unclear whether Mr. Yoon will speak directly at the hearing, but the protesters have pledged to continue demanding Mr. Yoon’s dismissal during the trial.
Prosecutor General Yoon is also being investigated on charges of rebellion in connection with the failed attempt to declare martial law.
He refused to comply with several summons served on him, and investigators warned that a warrant could be issued for his arrest if he remained unresponsive.
High-ranking executives, including former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, former Home Minister Lee Sang-min, and Army Chief of Staff General Park An-soo, are also being investigated.
Additional coverage by J. Kwon and Ho-su Lee from Seoul
