President Moon Jae-in has accepted the resignations of three Cabinet ministers on the eve of the launch of the incoming administration.
Presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee told reporters on Monday that resignations by education minister Yoo Eun-hae, justice minister Park Beom-kye and unification minister Lee In-young have been granted presidential authorization.
Earlier, all Cabinet members belonging to the ruling Democratic Party had agreed to resign en masse in time for Moon's departure, whose five-year term ends Monday night.
The presidential office had postponed accepting their resignations altogether out of concern vacancies would prevent the Yoon Suk Yeol administration from properly conducting Cabinet meetings.
In order for the Cabinet to make a decision, a quorum of at least half of the 20-member Cabinet must be present. So far, seven of Yoon’s Cabinet member nominees have received a confirmation hearing report from parliament.
Moon is said to have accepted the three ministers’ resignations amid speculation that Yoon will likely appoint up to 13 of his nominees regardless of the outcome of their parliamentary confirmation hearings.