South Korean Assembly passes motion to impeach interior minister over Halloween stampede

South Korea's opposition-heavy National Assembly passed a motion on December 11 to impeach Interior and Security Minister Lee Sang Min over the government's failed response to the stampede catastrophe over Halloween that killed 158 people in the capital Seoul.

According to the Korean Times, the vote had 182 votes in favor and one vote was declared invalid, while it required 150 supporters to go through in the 299-member Assembly. However, members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) left the room before the voting process began.

The motion had been submitted on December 8 by the Democratic Party (DP) and has been submitted to the House 72 hours later, as dictated by the rules of the National Assembly, according to Yonhap.

There is a possibility that President Yoon Suk Yeol may reject the motion, a fact that local media consider likely despite the fact that the DP has threatened to impeach the minister if he rejects it.

Sources in the presidential office told Yonhap on December 11 that the office has "no position" in response to the approval of the motion, which has been interpreted by the publication as a rejection of the motion.

As it usually takes a day for the Assembly's decision to reach the president's desk, Yoon is expected to announce on December 12 that he rejects the minister's dismissal after receiving official notification.