Park has no way out but to give up power
Cheong Wa Dae is surrounded by darkness, Monday. President Park Geun-hye will face questioning from the prosecution either today or Wednesday over a scandal involving her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil who is suspected of having meddled in state affairs. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon
By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye is politically incapacitated by the scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil and has no other option but to yield to the people’s call for her to let go of power — whether by resignation or impeachment.
The scandal, in which Choi meddled in state affairs to benefit herself financially, is stripping Park of her authority as President, and the public’s confidence in her. It has become impossible to reverse the administrative vacuum under her leadership. The historical massive rally Saturday that drew about 1 million people to the streets calling for Park’s resignation is dragging the President into more talks of impeachment in political circles.
“Park is not apparently ready to overcome the ongoing political challenges, given Cheong Wa Dae’s response to the protest,” said Yoon Tae-gon, a senior political analyst at Moa Agenda Strategy.
The presidential office said Sunday that Park was taking the street rallies “seriously,” but did not elaborate on how this would ease the public’s anger.
“The presidential office’s lack of solutions to the political firestorm proves President Park will not be able to perform her duties normally during her remaining term in office,” Yoon said.
Hangil Research director Hong Hyeong-sik echoed Yoon’s view.
“The leadership crisis is gripping the nation as Cheong Wa Dae’s poor handling of public sentiment is triggering a backlash,” Hong said.
Without changing its attitude, the Park government will face bigger administrative challenges soon, said Hong — although he did not expect the current administration to easily work its way out of the difficulties.
Although Park’s presidency expires in February 2018, the scandal is already paralyzing her government.
Since her first public apology for the political turmoil, Oct. 25, Park has failed to perform her duties as president. Her summit with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev last Thursday was the only official event scheduled during the controversy.
In addition, the scandal sent her approval rating plummeting to 5 percent, Friday, for the second straight week, according to Gallup Korea.
“As former President Kim Young-sam faced a power vacuum in 1997 after his approval rating dipped to a single digit, President Park is being placed in the same situation as her predecessor,” Hong said.
With the public turning against Park, the political circles, including her Saenuri Party, are shifting toward ousting Park.
“We have reached the point, where we need to consider impeaching the President,” said former Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung, Sunday, becoming the first ruling party lawmaker to call for this.
“Despite her obligation to protect the Constitution as President, she violated it, which meets the conditions to pursue impeachment,” Kim said.
Kim renewed his call, Monday, urging the opposition parties to initiate impeachment proceedings rather than demanding Park step down.
Former National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o advised Park to relinquish her power amid the growing public distrust.
“A head of state without public confidence cannot run the country,” Kim said in an Assembly seminar organized by Rep. Na Kyung-won of the Saenuri Party.
“The President should resign because she hurt national feelings and impaired the country’s dignity.”
He added that with Park losing ground, she could be impeached or step down.
Rep. Chun Jung-bae, a former co-chairman of the second-largest People’s Party, proposed forming a legislative special committee to pursue impeachment and setting a deadline for Park to resign.
“Our party should launch working-level preparations for impeachment,” Chun said, adding that unless she steps down by the deadline, the party should initiate impeachment proceedings.