The U.S. Department of State noted that it would work with Lee Joo-ho, the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and the Minister of Education, who has taken over the responsibilities of the President and the Prime Minister acting in office, to ensure the stability of the Republic of Korea-U.S. alliance.
The spokesperson for the Department of State was reported as saying on the 1st (local time) in response to related inquiries from Yonhap News Agency, “We remain committed to working with Deputy Prime Minister Lee Joo-ho, who is acting as President, and with South Korea to ensure the stability and sustainability of our alliance.”
The Department of State has reiterated its position to cooperate with South Korea during the interim leadership of Han Duck-soo and Choi Sang-mok.
Earlier, Choi Sang-mok, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and the Minister of Economy and Finance, expressed his resignation to the acting prime minister when a motion for his impeachment was presented in the National Assembly. The acting prime minister accepted Deputy Prime Minister Choi's resignation. On the same day, the acting prime minister announced their resignation, stating their intention to run for president, with their term ending at midnight the previous day. Accordingly, as of 12 a.m. that day, Lee Joo-ho, the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and the Minister of Education, took on the role of acting president.