South Korea’s Parliament Approves Kim Min-seok as New Prime Minister

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Min-seok, nominated by President Lee Jae-myung, received 173 votes in favor, with only three votes against and three invalid votes. The session was notably absent of members from the opposition People Power Party (PPP), led by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Following the parliamentary vote, Kim addressed the press, vowing to “uphold the will of the people and overcome the economic crisis.”

Background: Political Turmoil and Impeachment
The approval of Kim Min-seok comes amid a period of significant political upheaval in South Korea. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency on December 3, 2024, citing “anti-state activities by the opposition.” However, the National Assembly overturned this decision, forcing Yoon to step back.

On December 14, 2024, the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon, leading to his temporary suspension pending a decision by the Constitutional Court. On April 4, 2025, the court upheld the impeachment, citing Yoon’s declaration of a state of emergency as grounds for his removal. The court also ruled that early elections should be held within 60 days to elect a new president, with the cabinet setting the election date for June 3, 2025.

Lee Jae-myung’s Rise to Power
Following Yoon’s impeachment, Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), won the early presidential election and was officially sworn in on June 4, 2025.

Investigations into Yoon’s Actions
On June 5, 2025, the National Assembly passed bills to launch special investigations into Yoon’s declaration of a state of emergency and allegations against his wife, Kim. Despite initial reluctance, Yoon appeared for questioning on June 28, 2025, marking his first testimony in the ongoing investigations.