Park may opt for 'graceful exit'

By Jun Ji-hye

Rumors are circulating that President Park Geun-hye may step down as early as next week, choosing a “graceful exit” before the Constitutional Court makes its ruling on her impeachment.

The court plans to issue a verdict no later than March 13 when its acting President Lee Jung-mi, one of the court’s nine justices, retires.

Speculation first spread through social media, claiming Park would resign voluntarily to avoid the disadvantages and severe disgrace that the court’s ruling on her impeachment would bring. Some said “D-Day” will be Feb. 25, the fourth anniversary of her inauguration.

The rumors gained considerable support, Tuesday, as Rep. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the conservative Bareun Party, publicly called on Park to step down. He said the impeached President as well as politicians need to ponder together on measures to overcome difficulties facing the nation before the court rules on her impeachment.

A Cheong Wa Dae official denied the rumors, claiming, “Park’s resignation at this moment is beyond the realm of possibility.” The official said Park is just focusing on the impeachment trial and the ongoing investigation by the independent counsel into the massive corruption scandal that led to her impeachment by the National Assembly in December.

But the rumors were backed again by Rep. Chung Woo-taik, the floor leader of the ruling Liberty Korea Party, Wednesday, as he said Cheong Wa Dae’s explanation sounded like the President’s people have been reviewing the resignation option.

Chung said, “The party will also think about such an option.”

Those who are calling for Park’s resignation believe that even if the court overturns her impeachment, it will be difficult for her to continue to manage state affairs for the remainder of her term, given that almost 80 percent of the public has supported her impeachment in various opinion polls.

They also believe her voluntary resignation would be a better option for conservatives in winning the upcoming presidential election, considering that if the court upholds her impeachment, liberal candidates are expected to go all out to ask voters to judge Park’s conservative government.