S. Korea Premier Survives Motion of No Confidence
The South Korean prime minister and 23 Cabinet members survived a no-confidence motion Friday triggered by a bridge collapse in Seoul that killed 32 people.
The opposition Democratic Party had demanded that the Cabinet resign, arguing that the collapse and a boat fire four days later that killed 29 people prove the government’s inability to manage state affairs.
Experts have issued repeated warnings in recent years about lax safety standards on South Korea’s bridges and public transportation.
The National Assembly, controlled by the governing Democratic Liberal Party, retained Prime Minister Lee Yung Duk by a vote of 174-116.
Twenty-three members of the Cabinet also survived the no-confidence motion.
Lee’s offer to resign over the bridge collapse was rejected by President Kim Young Sam. Kim also refused to replace any Cabinet members.
Seoul’s mayor was fired after the collapse, and eight senior city officials have been arrested.
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