Quo Vadis Korea?

By Park Moo-jong

It has been a painful period for the Republic of Korea since the National Assembly voted to impeach the embattled President Park Geun-hye on Dec. 19 last year over the corruption and cronyism scandal dubbed "Choi Soon-sil gate."

We, Koreans, are experiencing commotions and troubles and we do not know where all of these will lead us.

I am afraid Korea may be drifting quickly toward the shameful times of 71 years ago in 1946 when an "all or nothing" confrontation between the left and the right forces split the people in a grave social chaos.

The rivals confronted each other through respective street protests over whether to accept or reject the trusteeship by the United States and the Soviet Union, thus eventually leading to national division in 1948.

A very similar phenomenon is sweeping the whole country over the Constitutional Court's ruling, slated for around March 13, over whether to accept or reject the parliamentary impeachment of the President.

On Wednesday, the 98th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement in 1919 against Japan, downtown Seoul and elsewhere across the country saw massive candlelit protests for the impeachment of Park and Taegeukgi (national flag) protests against it.

Deplorable in this grave situation is the ruthless and greedy behavior of politicians who, otherwise, should roll up their sleeves to persuade the angry public to wait calmly for the Constitutional Court's decision.

They are only interested in the presidential election, the date of which is to be fixed depending on the court's ruling, some of whom already appear to be acting as if they were president.

Even an opposition lawmaker supporting the candlelit protest "proposed" during a parliamentary session that the concerned law should be revised to ban the use of the national flag during street demonstrations.

What an egoistical idea. It is amazing how the police officer-turned-lawmaker came up with such a ridiculous proposal. Rather, she should have suggested first that candlelight should not be used during protests.

Adding fuel to the fire, the three left-wing opposition parties decided Tuesday to move to impeach acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn for rejecting the extension of the term of the independent counsel investigating Choi Soon-sil gate, which ended at the end of February.

The opposition movement is definitely revenge against Hwang. The President's office was suspended following the parliamentary impeachment and Prime Minister Hwang is doing the job.

If they succeed in impeaching Hwang, the deputy prime minister will become acting president and prime minister. What a funny situation!

Signs are that the opposition camp is likely to seize power after Park. How could such forces be so irresponsible, if they have any concerns about the nation now in security, political and economic debacles at the same time?

Nobody knows the results of the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial. Now is the very time for the people, on the left and right, to calm down and wait for the court's ruling.

Most of all, the presidential hopefuls should declare that they will accept "unconditionally" the court's ruling. It is a relief that Moon Jae-in, a strong presidential candidate, promised, though belatedly, he would accept the court's decision even if it "differs from the public sentiment." He earlier claimed if the court rejects the impeachment, a revolution would take place.

Of course, the two conflicting sides must stop their protests, causing severe inconveniences to citizens every weekend over the past three months, so police can return to their given job of securing the safety of the people.

The beleaguered President is also responsible for the current crisis the nation is now faced with. She has more than a week to consider how she should act for the nation and its people.

If the court accepts the parliamentary impeachment, she loses her presidency immediately and will enter Korean history as the first president to be fired. If the court rejects the parliamentary decision, she will retain, if she wants, the presidency for one more year until Feb. 24. But it is not expected that she will perform her duties as President well, as she already lost her presidential authority.

The time has come for Park to make up her mind to resign ahead of the court's ruling.

What's going on in this part of the world now reminds us of Saint Peter asking, "Quo vadis domine?" As well known, the Latin words mean "where are you going?"

According to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, the saint is fleeing from likely crucifixion in Rome and meets on the way the risen Jesus. Peter asks Jesus "Quo Vadis?" to which He replies, "Romam eo iterum crucifigi" (I am going to Rome to be crucified again").

The disciple thereby gains the courage to continue his ministry and returns to the city to eventually be martyred by being crucified upside-down. (The Church of Domine Quo Vadis in Rome is built where, according to legend, Jesus met Peter).

Aren't there any leaders like Peter who have the courage to "sacrifice" themselves to save the Republic of Korea in crisis?

Park can become a Peter.

Park Moo-jong is the adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English newspaper founded in 1950 after he worked as a reporter for the daily since 1974. He can be reached at moojong@ktimes.com or emjei29@gmail.com.