Prosecutors want to impeach Han Duck-soo for not appointing judges to the Constitutional Court.
South Korea's main opposition party has passed a resolution against the country's leader, increasing political unrest in the East Asian country.
The Democratic Party said it made the decision on Thursday over the refusal of acting leader Han Duck-soo to fill three of the court's vacancies before the court. reviewing cases of sedition against President Yoon Suk-yeol.
“We have passed the resolution… and we will explain it to the assembly today,” MP Park Sung-joon told reporters at the National Assembly about the action against Han. “We will vote tomorrow.”
South Korea was plunged into political turmoil after President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3.
Yoon was impeached by the legislature on December 14 for his announcement, but the Supreme Court's decision, which follows the lawmakers' decision, is necessary to complete the impeachment process.
However, the court lacks three judges. Even if it could move forward with its six members on the bench, one dissenting vote would reinstate Yoon.
The opposition-controlled National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the three judges to be installed as the court prepares to begin deliberations on Yoon's removal or reinstatement.
The vote came shortly after Han said on national television that he would not appoint judges without the consent of both countries – leaving the parties vulnerable.
Therefore, the opposition Democratic Party wants the representative president to be removed as well.
Han's refusal to officially appoint the three judges proves that he “has no will or ability to follow the constitution,” Democratic Party leader Park Chan-dae told reporters.
Mr Han insisted that he would issue the certificates to the judges only if his ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the opposition parties agreed on the nominees.
“The spirit of stability that is reflected in our laws and regulations is that the acting president should focus on maintaining stability in the administration to help the country deal with problems while avoiding the use of the president's major powers, including positions in the legislative bodies,” Han said.
The problems are mounting
If the opposition passes a resolution impeaching Han in Friday's vote, it would be the first time South Korea's democracy has impeached the president. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok will join as President.
Earlier this week, Mr. Han rejected opposition demands to set up two independent investigative agencies to investigate Yoon's long-running military jurisprudence and corruption allegations against his wife, Kim Keon-hee, which had prompted warnings from the Democratic Party. .
The petition for impeachment says Han is “deliberately avoiding a special investigation to investigate those involved in the crimes and has made it clear that he wants to reject the appointment of three Supreme Court judges”.
Doing so, it adds, “is a violation of the duty of a public servant to follow the law … and serve the people.”
Yoon has been repeatedly avoided requests for protection to make it appear that he will be questioned about criminals and he has obstructed the investigation in his office.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Corruption, which is leading the investigation along with police and military officials, has summoned Yoon for questioning this Sunday after he failed to comply with a previous request to appear on Christmas Day.