( 3 rd LD ) Opposition parties to seek impeachment of acting president ( ATTN : RECASTS lead , throughout with updates ) 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 they will cooperate and seek to oust Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo - ahn . The conservative Bareun Party , on the other hand , said it needs to examine the matter with its members . Earlier in the day , Hwang rejected the independent counsel ' s request to extend his legal term , which ends Tuesday . The four opposition parties also 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 . President Park Geun - hye ( Yonhap ) colin @ yna . co . kr ( END )