By Yi Whan-woo
President Park Geun-hye is becoming the nation's biggest security and diplomatic risk as political uncertainty over the fate of the scandal-ridden leader is causing havoc in international relations at a crucial period, analysts said Tuesday.
Possible security and diplomatic risks in the absence of a head of state have been cited as a reason for objections to Park resigning or being impeached despite a corruption scandal surrounding her and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
But it is actually the President who is escalating such risks by clinging to power and snubbing the people while the vacuum in state affairs is stirring up chaos, according to the analysts.
They said Park's presence at Cheong Wa Dae is hampering efforts to restructure foreign and security relations with allies amid growing uncertainties over security on the Korean Peninsula after Donald Trump was elected as the new U.S. president.
The experts also said Park is responsible for stirring up misunderstanding among the people concerning the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between South Korea and Japan, although it is crucial to countering North Korea's threats.
"The current power vacuum will be the biggest stumbling block in coping with uncertainties on the peninsula when Trump begins his term," said Kim Joon-hyung, a professor at Handong Global University, during a discussion at the National Assembly.
A think tank under the wing of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea hosted the event.
"Now is the golden time for Korea's diplomacy because it will be around next May and June at the earliest for the Trump administration's foreign affairs team to be ready to deal with international affairs. Therefore, Park's resignation and holding an early presidential election will be the only option to save our diplomacy."
Choi Jong-kun, a Yonsei University professor who mediated the discussion, echoed this view.
"We saw Trump winning the election when the power vacuum caused by the Park Geun-hye and Choil Soon-sil scandal stirred up chaos, and that's what makes the people more anxious," Choi said. "I urge the Park government to call it a day, and arrange an election for us to pick the next leader."
In a phone call with The Korea Times, Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University, said public support for foreign and security related policies is necessary for the government to implement them efficiently.
"But such policies can't function under this government because it is run by a president who has lost support and trust from the people but yet is still trying to hold onto power," he added.
Shin claimed that Park's equivocal status as a head of state is forcing Korea to stagger behind its rival Japan in establishing relations with Donald Trump and setting forth Seoul's view on U.S. policies on East Asia.
Cheong Wa Dae sent Cho Tae-yong, the deputy chief of the National Security Office, to meet Trump's security advisors on the presidential transition team last week while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Trump in New York, Thursday.
Abe was the first head of state to have a meeting with Trump after the latter won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8. Abe said they had "candid discussions."
Among the people that Cho met were Trump's newly-appointed national security adviser Michael Flynn and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.
Shin said Cho's meeting with them "falls behind" in terms of effectiveness compared to the one between Abe and Trump.
"You've got to talk to the U.S. president-elect if you want to ensure stable Seoul-Washington ties. It's virtually meaningless to talk with members of the presidential transition team because they are not the ultimate decision-makers," he said.
Political commentator Lee Kang-yun said the incoming U.S. president and other heads of states must have doubts over Park's power and that they may be reluctant to meet her.
"Park is still a head of state but whether she can keep her word concerning foreign affairs cannot be guaranteed in the future," Lee said. "Given the circumstances, her presence in Cheong Wa Dae is no good for our security and diplomacy."
South Korea and Japan are set to formally sign the GSOMIA to share military intelligence on North Korea, today, despite objections from the opposition parties.
The analysts said the agreement stirred up controversy because it was seen as part of Park's move to maintain control over security and other government affairs against the public sentiment.
"It will be us, not Japan, who will benefit more from the GSOMIA, considering we have had limited access to learning about North Korea's secret military activities," Shin said. "Now we'll have broader access with the information collected from Japan's reconnaissance assets. But because the deal was made hastily under the Park administration, the people may refuse to accept the agreement, just like they refuse to accept Park as president."
President Park Geun-hye is becoming the nation's biggest security and diplomatic risk as political uncertainty over the fate of the scandal-ridden leader is causing havoc in international relations at a crucial period, analysts said Tuesday.
Possible security and diplomatic risks in the absence of a head of state have been cited as a reason for objections to Park resigning or being impeached despite a corruption scandal surrounding her and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
But it is actually the President who is escalating such risks by clinging to power and snubbing the people while the vacuum in state affairs is stirring up chaos, according to the analysts.
They said Park's presence at Cheong Wa Dae is hampering efforts to restructure foreign and security relations with allies amid growing uncertainties over security on the Korean Peninsula after Donald Trump was elected as the new U.S. president.
The experts also said Park is responsible for stirring up misunderstanding among the people concerning the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between South Korea and Japan, although it is crucial to countering North Korea's threats.
"The current power vacuum will be the biggest stumbling block in coping with uncertainties on the peninsula when Trump begins his term," said Kim Joon-hyung, a professor at Handong Global University, during a discussion at the National Assembly.
A think tank under the wing of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea hosted the event.
"Now is the golden time for Korea's diplomacy because it will be around next May and June at the earliest for the Trump administration's foreign affairs team to be ready to deal with international affairs. Therefore, Park's resignation and holding an early presidential election will be the only option to save our diplomacy."
Choi Jong-kun, a Yonsei University professor who mediated the discussion, echoed this view.
"We saw Trump winning the election when the power vacuum caused by the Park Geun-hye and Choil Soon-sil scandal stirred up chaos, and that's what makes the people more anxious," Choi said. "I urge the Park government to call it a day, and arrange an election for us to pick the next leader."
In a phone call with The Korea Times, Shin Yul, a professor of political science at Myongji University, said public support for foreign and security related policies is necessary for the government to implement them efficiently.
"But such policies can't function under this government because it is run by a president who has lost support and trust from the people but yet is still trying to hold onto power," he added.
Shin claimed that Park's equivocal status as a head of state is forcing Korea to stagger behind its rival Japan in establishing relations with Donald Trump and setting forth Seoul's view on U.S. policies on East Asia.
Cheong Wa Dae sent Cho Tae-yong, the deputy chief of the National Security Office, to meet Trump's security advisors on the presidential transition team last week while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Trump in New York, Thursday.
Abe was the first head of state to have a meeting with Trump after the latter won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8. Abe said they had "candid discussions."
Among the people that Cho met were Trump's newly-appointed national security adviser Michael Flynn and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.
Shin said Cho's meeting with them "falls behind" in terms of effectiveness compared to the one between Abe and Trump.
"You've got to talk to the U.S. president-elect if you want to ensure stable Seoul-Washington ties. It's virtually meaningless to talk with members of the presidential transition team because they are not the ultimate decision-makers," he said.
Political commentator Lee Kang-yun said the incoming U.S. president and other heads of states must have doubts over Park's power and that they may be reluctant to meet her.
"Park is still a head of state but whether she can keep her word concerning foreign affairs cannot be guaranteed in the future," Lee said. "Given the circumstances, her presence in Cheong Wa Dae is no good for our security and diplomacy."
South Korea and Japan are set to formally sign the GSOMIA to share military intelligence on North Korea, today, despite objections from the opposition parties.
The analysts said the agreement stirred up controversy because it was seen as part of Park's move to maintain control over security and other government affairs against the public sentiment.
"It will be us, not Japan, who will benefit more from the GSOMIA, considering we have had limited access to learning about North Korea's secret military activities," Shin said. "Now we'll have broader access with the information collected from Japan's reconnaissance assets. But because the deal was made hastily under the Park administration, the people may refuse to accept the agreement, just like they refuse to accept Park as president."
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