Park may announce April departure

Fine dust envelops the National Assembly building on Yeouido, Seoul, Monday, four days before the Assembly will vote on whether to impeach President Park Geun-hye over the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
/ Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

President Park Geun-hye appears to have no other option but to specify when she will step down or leave her fate up to the Constitutional Court.

An impeachment motion is highly expected to pass the National Assembly, Friday, as a group of some 40 anti-Park lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party have decided to vote in favor of it.

Impeachment requires a two-thirds majority in the 300-member Assembly, and given opposition and independent lawmakers number 172 if all of them vote, at least 28 lawmakers from the governing party need to vote for it.

"Although her third national address was the best tactic to stall for time, the mass street protest on Saturday thwarted it," said Cho Jin-man, a professor of political science at Duksung Women's University, Monday. "Given the situation, President Park may address the nation in the near future to reveal the timetable for her resignation."

Since her third address last Tuesday, aimed at stalling for time and thwarting the impeachment push, the governing party had pushed for Park to resign by the end of April and hold an early presidential election in June.

Hur Won-je, Park's senior secretary for political affairs, also said Monday that the President will step down by the end of April.

"After being briefed about the party's roadmap about her early resignation, the President expressed her intention to accept it," Hur told lawmakers during an Assembly investigation into the corruption scandal involving Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

"That indicates her resignation will take place at the end of April."

However, lawmakers in the anti-Park faction decided to cross the aisle, Sunday, following the sixth candlelit rally that drew more than 2 million people to the streets across the nation ― the largest-ever mass gathering. According to Rep. Hwang Young-cheul, a member of the faction, 35 lawmakers from the faction and more than three Park loyalists are expected to vote for the impeachment motion.

Analysts doubt that another speech will buy Park time.

"Although she may address the nation again, it will not pay off," Cho said. "Other than stepping down as early as possible, there is no way to ease the growing public outrage toward the President and turn the tables."

According to the Saenuri Party, President Park is expected to speak to the nation Tuesday or Wednesday, vowing to resign by April.

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"Should Park make it clear she will step down by the end of April, I think some lawmakers may vote against the impeachment motion," said a lawmaker from the governing party.

Presidential chief of staff Han Gwang-ok also said Park may make the decision soon.

"After collecting opinions from many people, the President is likely to unveil the date for her resignation," Han told the Assembly investigation.

He added that the third address was a de-facto announcement of her resignation.

However, Cheong Wa Dae has remained cautious about what steps Park will take next, saying nothing has been decided on yet.

"Every option is up to the President and we just need to wait and see," said an official from the presidential office.

Cheong Wa Dae also canceled its daily press briefing, Monday, another sign Park is grappling with ideas on how to resolve the biggest political crisis of her presidency.

However, opposition parties ruled out Park's voluntary resignation, Monday.

"On Saturday, 2.3 million protesters joined rallies, refusing to accept the Saenuri Party's plan for voluntary resignation," said main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae.

"We urge Saenuri Party lawmakers to join the move for impeachment in accordance to the public's voice and conscience."

Floor leader Park Jie-won of the second-largest opposition People's Party also said the Assembly should vote on the impeachment motion even if the President agrees to step down in April.

Should Park decide to let the Constitutional Court determine her fate as President without an additional national address, she is expected to brace for the planned independent counsel's investigation and the Assembly probe into the corruption scandal, in which she is a prime suspect.

"In preparation for possible passage of the impeachment motion, Park and her side are expected to try to weaken the grounds for her impeachment," Hangil Research director Hong Hyeong-sik said.

"In addition, the Constitutional Court's ruling is like a political trial, based on public sentiment, so the President would try to regain public confidence such as by quitting the Saenuri Party to pave the way for the party to reform itself."