South Korean parliament impeaches minister over Halloween crush

On Wednesday, February 8, South Korean lawmakers decided to impeach the interior minister over his response to a fatal Halloween crush, paving the way for him to become the nation’s first cabinet member to be removed by the legislature.

The impeachment resolution was approved by a secret vote of 179-109 in the 300-member house, where the main opposition Democratic Party had a majority of 169 seats. It needs the backing of at least 150 members of the assembly to pass.

The motion will be reviewed by the justice committee of the parliament before being forwarded to the Constitutional Court, which might take up to six months to decide whether to uphold the impeachment.

The Democrats and other opposition parties pressed for the expulsion of Lee Sang-min, the minister of the interior, pressing him to accept responsibility for the poor reaction to the crush.

On October 29, 159 people were murdered and 196 were injured when revelers rushed narrow alleys in the popular nightlife neighborhood of Itaewon to celebrate Halloween without coronavirus masks for the first time in three years.

Keep Reading

Lee and the police have been criticized for their handling of the incident, especially after transcripts of emergency calls were made public and revealed that numerous individuals warned of potential danger and requested assistance hours before the rush.

Lee has apologized for the inadequate answers, but when asked on Monday if he was willing to resign, he stated that his top objective is to develop and execute measures to prevent a recurrence of the disaster.

President Yoon Suk-yeol had rejected the opposition’s demand that he fire Lee, and both his administration and the ruling party condemned the Democrats for misusing their majority status to move forward with the impeachment.

Also Read: Why European drug shortages could worsen

This week, tensions rose between the families of the crush victims and the Seoul authorities after the families erected an illegal memorial in front of city hall. On Tuesday, city officials stated that the memorial was in violation of the guidelines and demanded its removal within one week.

When the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment in 2017, President Park Geun-hye became the first elected South Korean leader to be removed from office. In 2014, the court rejected an impeachment petition against President Roh Moo-hyun.

Katherine S

1/4 German, 3/4 Malaysian. I write, follow and monitor closely political news happening in Malaysia, and other happening news in the ASEAN region. Newswriter for the best ASEAN news website - The Asian Affairs.

Recent Posts

Indonesia Extends Sales Ban to Google Pixel Following Non-Compliance with Investment Requirements

Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry has implemented a ban on the sale of Google Pixel phones within the country, adding to…

November 4, 2024

One Piece Unveils Revamped Fish-Man Island Saga with New Opening Theme as Anime Prepares for 2025 Return

One Piece offers a new take of the legendary Fish-Man Island arc, so fans are in for a nostalgic trip…

November 4, 2024

Johor to Pioneer Premium Salaries for Skilled Workers as Malaysia’s First State Initiative under Johor-Singapore SEZ

Particularly in areas related to the forthcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), Johor is poised to become the first state…

November 4, 2024

China-Japan Diplomatic Groundwork Laid Ahead of Anticipated Xi-Ishiba Summit in South America

China and Japan are getting ready for what would be a historic meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and freshly…

November 4, 2024

Philippines Triumphs with Fifth Consecutive East Asia Baseball Cup Title

Celebrating their fifth straight East Asia Baseball Cup title, the Philippines men's baseball team savored a historic triumph. Sunday in…

November 4, 2024

Japan’s Bold “Conveyor Belt Road” to Solve Truck Driver Shortages with Automated Cargo Transport

Officially known as an "auto flow road," the government of Japan has presented plans for a revolutionary "conveyor belt road,"…

November 3, 2024

This website uses cookies.

Read More