Vice Minister Kim Seok-woo noted on the 2nd that although former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok has resigned, there is no issue with the quorum for the cabinet meeting.
On the same day in the morning, Vice Minister Kim attended an urgent inquiry by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Here, People Power Party lawmaker Jo Bae-suk asked, "There is an issue with the number of cabinet members. Looking at past interpretations from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, there are similar cases." In response, Vice Minister Kim said, "Reflecting on past cases, I understand that meetings have been deemed valid even with fewer than 15 members present."
In 2009, during the Lee Myung-bak administration, a cabinet meeting was held with only 14 cabinet members. This was because then-Minister of the Interior and Safety Won Se-hoon resigned to assume the role of Director of the National Intelligence Service. When the Ministry of the Interior and Safety requested a legal interpretation regarding this, the Ministry of Justice responded, "If the cabinet meeting meets the composition requirements and is temporarily vacant due to operational reasons, it cannot be considered a violation of the constitution."
The constitution stipulates, "The cabinet meeting must consist of between 15 and 30 cabinet members." According to relevant presidential decrees, it is stated that a majority of the members (currently 21 cabinet members, or 11) must be present to convene.
As a result of former Deputy Prime Minister Choi's resignation, there are now only 14 cabinet members left as the ministers of five ministries, including the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Economy and Finance, are vacant.
Consequently, there has been a debate about whether it is possible to hold a cabinet meeting without meeting the constitutional requirement for its composition (minimum of 15 members).