President Park meets with cabinet after impeachment decision

박 대통령, 탄핵 가결 후 국무위원 간담회.. '안정적으로 국정 운영 바라'
The presidential office, as widely expected... responded promptly to the outcome of the impeachment vote.
President Park Geun-hye and her secretaries had been preparing for all possible scenarios and watched the vote on TV.
For more, we go to our presidential office correspondent Song Ji-sun.
Ji-sun,... it seems no amount of advance work could prepare the top office now that its worst scenario has become a reality.

Daniel.
Soon after the result of the vote came out, President Park held a meeting with her cabinet at the presidential office,... where she said she accepted the result.
She also asked the ministers to carry on with state affairs as normally as possible. Take a listen to her remarks.

"I solemnly accept the National Assembly's and the people's voices and sincerely hope this confusion is resolved in a positive manner. Regarding the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling and the special investigation by the independent counsel, I will react in a calm and composed manner."

In a calm, poised voice... the president expressed her reaction, calling on her cabinet members to continue her administration's policy drives for the country's future and growth.
Prior to today's vote... President Park had made various attempts to persuade lawmakers, meeting with Saenuri Party leaders and trying to speak with the opposition parties,... but those attempts have failed, eventually leading to the approval of her impeachment motion.
She has also hinted that she will not be stepping down before the Constitutional Court makes its ruling... despite the fierce public demand for an immediate resignation. Daniel.

I see. What happens with the president now?

President Park's authority as president will be legally suspended... when Cheong Wa Dae officially receives the notice that the impeachment motion has been approved from the National Assembly.

However, her status as president remains unchanged -- and along with her title -- and she will be living at the presidential office until the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment motion,... which could take up to six months.
Prime Minister Hwang will now take over as acting president -- and his responsibilities will range from command of the nation's military to appointing government officials.
Both Cheong Wa Dae and the Prime Minister's Office have been preparing for a smooth transfer of power, and the president's secretaries and government officials will now figure out their reporting hierarchy.
While the Constitutional Court reviews the case over the coming months,... President Park also faces a special probe investigated by the independent counsel.
She has already engaged lawyers to represent her in the case.
That probe could last for up to four months... and will most likely involve an in-person interview of the president on the allegations linked to her confidante Choi Soon-sil.
Investigators will be seeking to verify whether the president is a co-conspirator in the power abuse and influence-peddling activities allegedly committed by Choi.
Daniel.

Thank you Ji-sun, for the latest from the presidential office.


Visit ‘Arirang News’ Official Pages
Facebook(NEWS):   / newsarirang  

Homepage: http://www.arirang.com
Facebook:   / arirangtv  
Twitter:   / arirangworld  
Instagram:   / arirangworld