Han Duck-soo Acts as Acting President... Focus on Security

Prime Minister Han Holds Cabinet Meeting to Review Current Issues

Focus on Management Rather Than Exercising Authority

'Impeachment Risk' as a Variable Due to Suspect Status

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's status changes to 'Acting President Prime Minister' from the 14th, when the impeachment resolution of President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivered to the Presidential Office. This marks the tenth time since the establishment of the government in 1948 that an interim acting president system has been initiated due to presidential resignation, assassination, or impeachment resolution.

Acting President Han, who has taken over the command of the armed forces, is expected to first focus on national security and public order. He is then expected to hold an interim cabinet meeting to review current issues with ministers from various departments and deliver a public address.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, Acting President Han will primarily conduct his duties from the Prime Minister's office at the Government Complex Seoul. While Han will lead the overall state affairs, he is expected to focus on diplomacy, security, and social sectors, with the economic sector being managed by the economic team led by Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance.

It is reported that the Prime Minister's Office and the Office for Government Policy Coordination have referred extensively to the precedents of former Acting Prime Ministers Goh Kun (during the Roh Moo-hyun administration) and Hwang Kyo-ahn (during the Park Geun-hye administration) regarding the role of the acting president. Han also has experience closely assisting the acting president as the head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination during Goh Kun's acting presidency.

Under current law, the scope and authority of the acting president's duties are not clearly defined. However, many speculate that it is not easy for an appointed acting president to exercise the inherent powers of an elected president, such as appointing or dismissing high-ranking officials or holding meetings with foreign leaders.

Among constitutional scholars, there is a prevalent interpretation that "the role of the acting president should be limited to minimal administrative management." Acting President Han also stated during an emergency inquiry at the National Assembly on the 11th that "the authority of the acting president always has limits and is centered on management rather than initiating new tasks."

However, the level of security and protocol will be elevated, with personnel from the Presidential Security Service joining the Prime Minister's Office and the provision of a bulletproof vehicle used by the president. Although the Office for Government Policy Coordination will primarily assist, the Presidential Office staff can also report major issues to Acting President Han if necessary.

There is also speculation that Han's 'impeachment risk' could become an obstacle to future state administration. Prime Minister Han is also under investigation as a suspect in a martial law case and is in an unstable position where the opposition party can push for an impeachment resolution at any time. There is interest in whether Prime Minister Han will exercise the right to request reconsideration (veto) on bills forcibly passed by the major opposition party. The amendment to the Grain Management Act, which mandates the government to purchase surplus rice, is a representative example. Although President Yoon exercised his veto several times, it passed the National Assembly plenary session again on the 28th of last month.

Additionally, there is interest in whether the veto will be exercised on amendments to the Agricultural and Fishery Products Distribution and Price Stabilization Act, the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Countermeasures Act, the Agricultural and Fishery Disaster Insurance Act, the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act, the National Assembly Act, the Special Prosecutor Act on Kim Keon-hee, and the Special Prosecutor Act on Rebellion. Prime Minister Han must appoint the permanent special prosecutor related to the martial law case in place of President Yoon.

Reporter Park Sang-yong yourpencil@hankyung.com