Park’s removal spawns political uncertainty

Tens of thousands celebrated the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-Hye. The motion to impeach was adopted by 234 votes to 56, easily securing the required two-thirds majority in the 300-seat chamber. It triggered wild celebrations among hundreds of anti-Park activists gathered outside the National Assembly. The protesters called the impeachment a new beginning in South Korean politics. People have called for a new era of cleaner politics and for reforms to make the country’s family-run conglomerates more transparent and accountable.
Park enjoyed stellar popularity for most of her life as a conservative icon. But the influence-peddling scandal sent her once-bulletproof approval ratings to record lows. It prompted millions to take to the streets in a series of mass weekly protests calling for her ouster.
Park apologised several times in tearful televised addresses, in which she painted herself as a lonely, isolated leader whose main offence was to be over-trusting of a personal friend.
But there was little public sympathy, with many seeing her professed isolation as a reflection of aloof arrogance rather than genuine loneliness.
The impeachment motion had accused Park of constitutional and criminal violations ranging from a failure to protect people’s lives to bribery and abuse of power. And most of the charges stemmed from an investigation into a scandal involving the president’s long-time friend, Choi Soon-Sil, who is currently awaiting trial for fraud and embezzlement.
The impeachment stripped Park of her substantial executive powers. Now, it requires the final approval from the Constitutional Court, which can take months.
On paper, the court might be expected to favour Park, as nine of its justices were appointed by her or her conservative predecessor, Lee Myung-Bak.
But public opinion is hugely in favour of removing Park from the presidential Blue House, with the most recent opinion polls showing support for impeachment running at around 80 percent. So the justices will be under extreme pressure to uphold parliament’s decision. Presently the Park’s authority is only suspended and she retains the title of president and the immunity from prosecution that goes with it.
Many activists are adamant that the president should resign immediately and face criminal prosecution.
“We are still hungry” the crowd in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun chanted, as they also sang along to the revised lyrics of a Christmas song that read: “Only after she is out, will it be a Merry Christmas.”
The country is going to face a lengthy period of uncertainty at a time of slowing economic growth and elevated military tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.
Park’s PM, Hwang Kyo-Ahn, has been appointed temporary guardian of her sweeping executive powers. The South Korea should be cautious enough to prevent any government vacuum. It must also address the people’s anxiety.
The scandal and the ensuing political uncertainty that has enveloped governmental decision-making over the past month are likely to continue for at least the next four to eight months. It makes the situation potentially more vulnerable to North Korean provocations. People would expect a strong response to Pyongyang’s any attempt to take undue advantage of South Korea’s political crisis.
As well as the public’s personal antipathy to Park, the corruption scandal and ensuing crisis has lifted the lid on growing discontent with income disparities, rising unemployment and the apparently pampered lives of South Korea’s political and business elite. The scandal has shone a fresh spotlight on the unsavoury ties between politics and commerce that were partially blamed for the 2014 Sewol ferry tragedy that claimed more than 300 lives.
Contributing to the general anxiety is the presidential power transition in the United States, a key economic and military ally which has nearly 30,000 troops permanently stationed in South Korea.
Presently, it is more than necessary to maintain a watertight national defense posture to keep the Asia’s 4th largest economy safe and prosperous. Given the present global slowdown, maintaining financial and currency markets should be paramount.