The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Scientists find green way to turn CO2 into fuel with sunlight

  • 3

    BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo

  • 5

    Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official

  • 7

    Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations

  • 9

    INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels

  • 11

    Korea boosts subsidies to rev up falling EV sales

  • 13

    Lawmakers want to grill business tycoons over decision to rejoin FKI

  • 15

    All-Korean showdowns set up on 1st day of medal race

  • 17

    Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape

  • 19

    Yoon signs off on plan to waive expressway tolls during Chuseok holiday

  • 2

    N. Korea holds politburo meeting to discuss Kim-Putin summit: KCNA

  • 4

    BTS member Suga begins mandatory military service

  • 6

    Kim Jong-un's rejection of Russia's food assistance irritates North Korean defectors

  • 8

    Opposition party in turmoil as leader could be arrested on Tuesday

  • 10

    Foreign employees rewarded for contribution to Korea's shipbuilding industry

  • 12

    Russia lodges protest to S.Korean envoy over Yoon's UN speech

  • 14

    Disney+ aims to expand investment in original Korean content

  • 16

    Arrest warrant hearing for DPK leader Lee to be held Tuesday

  • 18

    Appellate court upholds 9-yr prison term for man over filming, distributing sexual videos featuring women

  • 20

    Gov't reviews changing description of Fukushima wastewater

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, September 24, 2023 | 19:00
-------------------------
Park takes nation for ride back to past
Posted : 2015-06-29 17:34
Updated : 2015-06-30 08:59
Kang Seung-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kang Seung-woo

Are we hurtling back to the 1970s when a head of state was equivalent to a king or queen endowed with almost unlimited power?

Certainly, President Park Geun-hye, who was elected through a popular vote, was expected to be the last person to emulate such an anachronism.

However, judging by Park's fight with her former loyalist, people could think they are back in an era when democracy was sacrificed for the purpose of economic promotion.

While vetoing a revision bill for the National Assembly Law, Thursday, Park slammed the Saenuri Party leadership — particularly floor leader Rep. Yoo Seong-min — and denounced the bill as unconstitutional. Cheong Wa Dae and Park's followers have been eager to force Yoo out, holding him responsible for the feud between the presidential office and the party.

However, according to a public opinion poll by CBS No-Cut News, which interviewed 1,000 respondents Monday, 53.8 percent said that Yoo should not step down, compared with 38.4 percent who said he should.

In addition, 58.5 percent disagreed with the pro-Park lawmakers' calls for Yoo's resignation for "betraying her," with only 32.9 percent supporting them.

"Cheong Wa Dae has no authority and cause to force the floor leader of the ruling party to quit," said Yun Seong-yi, a professor of political science at Kyung Hee University.

"Amid concerns over the increasing concentration of power in the President's hands, Yoo tried to ease the concentration. However, should Yoo resign due to Cheong Wa Dae's pressure, politics will be back in the past, where parliament served as a yes-man to the President."

Yun added that the presidential office's attempt to force Yoo out will fail to draw public support, describing the current moves as a "misjudgment."

Rep. Moon Jae-in, the chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), echoed Yun, saying Monday that such a move is a breach of the principle of the separation of powers and interferes with the National Assembly.

"In addition, President Park urged Yoo to be judged at next year's general election, so her remarks may have violated the Election Law," Moon said.

Critics said that Park was too emotional in bashing the floor leader, who was once a staunch ally of hers.

"As the head of state, President Park should not have reacted in such a manner although she may lose her grip on the ruling party without any strong countermeasure to the challenge," said Hong Hyeong-sik, the director of Hangil Research.

"Park had been known for controlling her emotions well, but since taking office (in 2013), she has been caught showing her feelings frequently."

Hong added that perhaps Park's traumatic childhood — her father the former President Park Chung-hee was killed by his own intelligence chief — may have influenced her zero tolerance for any betrayal.

Meanwhile, some Saenuri Party members have come forward in an attempt to save the floor leader.

"We will not look on as the floor leader, who we handpicked, is being ousted," Rep. Chung Doo-un said.

"We appear to live in a period of military dictatorship, given that Cheong Wa Dae is trying to force a duly-elected floor leader to quit."

Lee Hye-hoon, a former Saenuri Party Supreme Council member, also said in a radio interview that party members overwhelmingly gave Yoo their confidence during a party meeting Friday and pro-Park lawmakers should follow this.

Emailksw@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
Top 10 Stories
1Understanding Korean Modernization Understanding Korean Modernization
2Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws Bears of Joseon part 1: Fanciful tales and deadly claws
3Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses Exhibition for soldiers highlights North Korea's human rights abuses
4Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some Sil-A overcomes stage fright, and them some
5Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation Korea, Saudi Arabia celebrate 93rd Saudi National Day, vow stronger cooperation
6Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars Bears of Joseon part 2: Behind bars
7JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up JTI Korea joins Jongno clean-up
8Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil. Mirae Asset Global Investments' AUM reaches $219 bil.
9Samsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on ChinaSamsung, SK relieved by revised chip restrictions on China
10CKD Kochon Foundation awards Ukraine health authorities for treating tuberculosis patients amid raging war CKD Kochon Foundation awards Ukraine health authorities for treating tuberculosis patients amid raging war
Top 5 Entertainment News
1TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion TEMPEST gears up to showcase fiery passion
2[INTERVIEW] Yim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston' INTERVIEWYim Si-wan went extra mile to portray legendary athlete in 'Road to Boston'
3BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo BLACKPINK's contract renewal still in limbo
4[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels INTERVIEWVirtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels
5Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape Hebrew University students travel to Korea to explore musical landscape
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group