Hardliners have gained the upper hand within the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) while the nation is in political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s surprise declaration of martial law on Dec. 3.
The opposition is losing the opportunity to prove itself as a trusted political entity competent enough to save the nation from crisis as it turned a deaf ear to mounting calls to play a constructive role.
The main opposition party mulls a motion to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, calling him Yoon’s collaborator who allegedly assisted the sitting president's martial law declaration. If the DPK pushes this measure through the National Assembly, Han will be suspended from his duties. Then, Choi Sang-mok, deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, will replace Han, presiding over Cabinet meetings and overseeing state affairs. Its consequences are apparent. Political turmoil will escalate further.
The DPK said the prime minister knew that Yoon was going to declare martial law prior to a Cabinet meeting held on Dec. 3, but that he didn’t take appropriate measures to stop his boss from abusing his power. Han let it happen, and therefore he is also culpable, according to the party.
The DPK also seeks to prepare motions to impeach other Cabinet members who attended the Dec. 3 meeting. Rep. Kim Yong-min of the DPK said the prime minister and other Cabinet ministers who approved Yoon’s declaration of martial law are all collaborators. “The president declared martial law even though conditions were not met. Cabinet ministers who were at the meeting that day are all responsible and they are collaborators,” he said.
What he said makes sense. In this time of crisis, however, his claim is flawed. Bringing the prime minister and Cabinet ministers to justice is not as urgent as restoring the nation to normalcy.
The DPK must rethink its plan to impeach Han and other Cabinet ministers. Imagine what will happen if they do. Political instability will be escalated further and this, in turn, will negatively affect the already-struggling Korean economy.
The nation is in peril and Yoon’s short-lived martial law continues to have a ripple effect on the economy and South Korea’s relations with foreign nations. No one will gain from the current situation.
Now is the time to think about priorities and get the job done accordingly.
South Korea is already paying the price. Major bills, including Korea’s equivalent of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, are stuck in the Assembly as rival parties are overwhelmed by the aftermath of the martial law fiasco. Those critical bills are necessary for local Big Tech firms to survive in the competitive global market but they are not deliberated in the committees. The chances for those measures to be passed within this year are dim. South Korea’s exports of goods and commodities are negatively affected as the nation is reeling.
More significantly, political instability in the South can trigger a miscalculation from North Korea. If not properly controlled, political turmoil in South Korea could lead to the onset of World War III.
The clock is ticking on the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Shifts in major policy areas are highly likely to happen, but South Korea is unprepared for the new U.S. administration.
First things first, all political resources need to be activated in getting South Korea back to normal.
The DPK, as the largest party controlling the National Assembly, must prioritize measures that can help the nation regain resiliency to overcome the current crisis.
Before the martial law declaration, the DPK invited criticism for abusing its power in the Assembly. It abused impeachment motions and took advantage of its majority status to pass a budget proposal unilaterally in the committee. The DPK passed the bill unilaterally on Tuesday. After martial law, it has become even more unruly and continued trying to profit from the political unrest. The DPK has no future if it continues to do what it has done so far. It should heed moderates’ voices from within and focus all its political assets on helping the nation overcome the current crisis.