South Korea’s acting president faces criticism as Yoon’s aides tender resignations

In a dramatic move, senior aides to South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol offered their resignations on January 1, following a political controversy over acting President Choi Sang-mok’s approval of two new judges for the Constitutional Court.

The court is expected to rule on Yoon's impeachment trial.

A statement from Yoon's office confirmed the resignation offers, which included the chief of staff, policy chief, national security advisor, special advisor on foreign affairs and security, and all senior secretaries, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

 The statement did not provide further details on the matter.

An anonymous presidential official disclosed that the aides had initially offered their resignations following Yoon’s unsuccessful attempt to declare martial law on December 3, although their resignations were not accepted at that time. The official explained that these senior aides had supported Choi since he assumed the acting presidency, though they are not involved in day-to-day government functions. Instead, they report to Choi and participate in meetings as required.

The resignation offers came after Choi approved the appointment of two judges to the Constitutional Court, increasing the number of justices to eight out of the nine-member panel. A ruling on Yoon’s impeachment trial will require the agreement of at least six judges.

The decision faced backlash from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, which criticized the appointments as "dogmatic" and lacking proper consultation.

Choi assumed the role of acting president on Friday after Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since December 14 when Yoon was suspended from office, was impeached.

Yoon is under investigation for leading an insurrection, and on December 31, a Seoul district court granted approval for his arrest, marking the unprecedented legal action against a sitting president in South Korean history.

By Tamilla Hasanova