South Korea's opposition has said that it would impeach acting president Han Duck-soo in protest at the interim leader's refusal to sign into law special bills to investigate his impeached predecessor.
The main opposition Democratic Party had set Christmas Eve as the deadline for Mr Han to promulgate two special bills investigating suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law, as well as graft allegations surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
The conservative leader was stripped of his duties by parliament on 14 December following his brief declaration of martial law 11 days earlier, which plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
But Mr Han, who stepped in to replace Mr Yoon, rejected the opposition's demand at a cabinet meeting today, insisting on bipartisan agreements for the two bills.
Mr Han's stance "left us no other option but to interpret it as his intention to continue the insurrection by delaying proceedings", opposition floor leader Park Chan-dae told a press briefing.
"We will immediately initiate impeachment proceedings against Han," he added.
The warning came ten days after Mr Yoon was impeached in an opposition-led vote, suspending him from presidential duties pending a Constitutional Court ruling on whether to uphold the decision.
The opposition is seeking two special independent investigative bodies to look into Mr Yoon's martial law declaration and the controversial affairs of first lady Ms Kim, including alleged bribery.
Mr Yoon is currently under investigation by a joint team comprising police, the defence ministry, and anti-corruption investigators.
The opposition says it needs only a simple majority in the 300-member parliament to impeach Mr Han, as this is the threshold for a cabinet member.
The ruling People Power Party, however, argues that a two-thirds majority is required since Mr Han is currently serving as acting president.
