( 5 th LD ) Opposition parties to seek impeachment of acting president ( ATTN : ADDS details in 3 , 12 ) By Kang Yoon - seung SEOUL , Feb . 27 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea ' s liberal opposition parties said Monday they will push for the impeachment of the acting president after he refused to extend an independent probe into a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun - hye . The main opposition Democratic Party , as well as the People ' s Party and the Justice Party , said it will cooperate and seek to oust Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo - ahn . The conservative Bareun Party , on the other hand , said it will not join the move to impeach Hwang . Earlier in the day , Hwang rejected the independent counsel ' s request to extend his legal term , which ends Tuesday . The four opposition parties vowed to convene an extraordinary sitting to enact yet another special probe to examine the scandal . As the three opposition parties hold 166 seats in the 300 - seat National Assembly , pundits said the parties will face no troubles in securing the minimum vote to impeach the prime minister . Rep . Choo Mi - ae of the main opposition called Hwang ' s rejection " the worst decision in the republic ' s history . " " It will be remembered as a decision that goes against the rule of law in favor of criminal acts by President Park Geun - hye and chaebol , " Choo said . Rep . Oh Shin - hwan of the Bareun Party said the decision contradicts the public ' s hope to find the truth behind the corruption scandal , calling the acting president ' s move an act of " tyranny . " The party spokesman warned that the public will not sit idle if the decision is based on his potential presidential ambitions . Since Park ' s impeachment in December , Hwang has been viewed as a potential presidential candidate for the conservative bloc , although he has refused to make his true intentions known . The People ' s Party echoed the view , claiming Hwang is only struggling to shield Park despite the public ' s calls for a thorough investigation . The Bareun Party said although it is disappointed by the acting president ' s decision , the act does not constitute grounds for an impeachment . The party , however , said it will support adopting another special probe into the case . The ruling Liberty Korea Party , on the other hand , said the opposition parties ' plan to impeach the acting president is an " unconstitutional and irrational " action . " The idea is unconstitutional in that the acting president was designated in accordance with the Constitution , " Rep . Kim Sung - won of the ruling party said , claiming the ouster of the prime minister will bring more confusion to the country already rocked by the scandal . " Hwang carried out state affairs in silence despite challenges . He made the decision on the independent counsel issue , taking into account the related law and principles , " Kim said . " The opposition parties should cooperate in normalizing state affairs and stop violating the Constitution in order to satisfy their own political interests . " President Park Geun - hye ( Yonhap ) colin @ yna . co . kr ( END )