By Kim Hyo-jin
President Park Geun-hye is facing the most critical moment in her presidency today.
Shouts of “Down with Park Geun-hye” from more than 500,000 people at Gwanghwamun Square, just a few blocks away from Cheong Wa Dae, could reach the presidential office.
Park has ignored growing public calls for her to come clean about the scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil. But she will find it harder to keep turning a deaf ear to the people’s mounting calls for her to quit.
All three opposition parties have decided to participate in the street rally, raising the pressure on the embattled President. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) made her resignation the party’s official stance, Friday, following the minor opposition People’s Party and Justice Party.
The People’s Party has officially pushed for her resignation since Thursday, along with the Justice Party.
They assert that the President has lost confidence not only among the public but also neighboring countries, and so should step aside from diplomacy and security affairs to prevent further confusion.
“President-elect Trump cannot save Park,” said DPK Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae. “Diplomacy is the key to deciding the fate of the country ― especially for a country like us that has been influenced by major nations. It makes no sense for Park, viewed as unqualified by the public, seeks to keep a grip on diplomacy.”
The opposition parties and potential presidential candidates have demanded that Park give up control of diplomatic, military and domestic affairs and hand it over to a new prime minister selected by the National Assembly.
Moon Jae-in, a former leader of the main opposition party, renewed his call on Park to delegate full authority to the future new prime minister, saying she has been given a “last chance” before the upcoming civic protest.
“Park lost her authority to manage state affairs. People have no trust in her anymore, not to mention she has lost face on the global stage. She is damaging the national pride once again by trying to hold onto power,” Moon said in a Facebook post, Friday.
“We cannot let the bewildered President sink the country. She should hand over full authority to a rival parties-backed prime minister and guarantee a new bipartisan Cabinet to manage state affairs until the next administration takes over.”
Park has been under pressure to resign amid a myriad of allegations that her longtime friend Choi, despite having no official position and security clearance, regularly received classified information and meddled in state affairs, exerting influence on economic, foreign and defense policies adopted by Park.
In a move to appease the public outcry, she proposed Tuesday that if the National Assembly picks a prime minister she will let him or her to take over “effective control” of the Cabinet.
Park, however, has taken flak from the opposition bloc for failing to elaborate to what extent she will give up her own authority.
Cheong Wa Dae remained negative toward the opposition’s demand, calling it “unconstitutional.”
“They are forcing Park to act unconstitutionally but the President still has to stick to the responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution in any situation,” a presidential official said, hinting at Park’s refusal to give up rights to control the military and diplomatic affairs.
Meanwhile, public anger towards the ruling bloc is showing no signs of abating.
In the latest Gallup poll conducted from Nov. 8 to 10, Park’s approval rating remained at an all-time low of 5 percent for the second consecutive week. The ruling Saenuri Party’s support rating stood at 17 percent, the lowest since the party’s predecessor the Grand National Party was established in 1997.
Meanwhile, the main opposition DPK has a 31 percent approval rating and the minor opposition People’s Party 13 percent, remaining unchanged compared to the previous week.
“The point here is that Park has no authority whatsoever anymore among citizens. She should give up full power and advance the presidential election to normalize state affairs,” said Kim Hyung-joon, a politics professor at Myongji University.