South Korea’s parliament approves impeachment motions against chief state auditor, 3 senior prosecutors

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament approved impeachment motions Thursday against the chief state auditor and three senior prosecutors for their involvement in investigations concerning the relocation of the presidential office and the first lady.

The motions were filed against Choe Jae-hae, chair of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI); Lee Chang-soo, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office; and two prosecutors under Lee -- Cho Sang-won and Choi Jae-hun.

All four officials will be suspended from their duties pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to uphold their impeachment.

It marks the first time in history that a BAI chief has been impeached by parliament.

The motions passed with the following votes: 188 in favor and 4 against for Choe, 185 in favor and 3 against for Lee, 187 in favor and 4 against for Cho, and 186 in favor and 4 against for Choi.

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) chose to boycott the vote.

Choe is accused by the opposition of conducting a flawed review of alleged irregularities surrounding the 2022 relocation of the presidential office, a move that was part of President Yoon Suk Yeol's campaign pledge.

The three prosecutors are accused of failing to indict first lady Kim Keon-hee following an investigation into her alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme.

The impeachment motions were initially set for a vote on Wednesday, but the session was postponed due to President Yoon's brief declaration of martial law.