12.03.2017
KBS News
By Gim Seongsu
Acting President Hwang Gyoan announced today that he is expecting the election agency to announce a date for the forthcoming election this week. In a phonecalle to KBS he said “we are looking towards declaring a date for the election within the coming week” and “the deadline for the announcement of the election date is within ten days of any impeachment.” If the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs appoints an election date and reports it to the Hwang administration, the Hwang administration will then determine the election date based on this.
It was also reported that the Cabinet will hold a cabinet meeting and vote on any proposed election date. Although there is not clear legal basis for election by the Cabinet, it is important that the election day be designated as a temporary holiday. Article 68 of the constitution states that “when a president vacates their position, or when an election is invalidated, or when a president is disqualified due to a judgement or other reasons, their successor shall be elected within 60 days”. This deadline would bring us up to May the 9th, 60 days from when former President Bak Geunhye was removed from office on