President Park Geun-hy e of South Korea passed problems regarding reduction of her term and whether or not she should remain in an office to South Korea’s National Assembly. Although it is an announcement of ‘orderly resignation’, she has requested agreements from her opposing parties. As President Park passed rights to decision making to National Assembly, opposing parties now have to go through ‘agreement’ that is more complicated than impeachment. However opposing parties are maintaining their attacks on President Park by receiving signatures for her impeachment.
“I am going to have National Assembly handle problems regarding reduction of my term and whether or not I should remain in an office.” said President Park during a third nationwide talk that was held at the Blue House. “I will step down when opposing parties minimize confusion and gaps from government administration by discussing with each other and lay out a method to smoothly transfer my government power.” She also announced that she has put down everything and is hoping for South Korea to go back to its original track as soon as possible.
It is believed that President Park has ultimately chosen a voluntary resignation out of impeachment and resignation. As unparalleled massive candlelight vigils are taking place every week and as National Assembly is planning a voting for legal action plan for her impeachment on the 2nd of December, President Park had to make a swift decision.
Veterans from political circles such as former chairman of National Assembly suggesting President Park to resign and presenting a schedule for her ‘orderly resignation’ until next April have played big roles in her decision. Prominent members from Saenuri Party that is pro-President Park also recommended for a voluntary resignation to her.
Due to announcement of her resignation, all of decision-making for timing of her resignation, election of prime minister recommended by National Assembly, and implementation early election of president is now in the hands of National Assembly. It is as if South Korea’s political circles are put to another test during this current state.
President Park emphasized ‘smooth power transfer’ through her nationwide talk. As she announced that she will follow agreements that are made between opposing parties, it seems that it will take significant time for National Assembly to come up with final decisions.
Opposing parties all criticized her announcement as tricks to evade impeachment. “South Koreans want President Park to immediately resign.” said The Minjoo Party of Korea. “They did not want her to put up conditions to drag time and pass over credits to National Assembly.” On this day, The Minjoo Party of Korea and The People’s Party recommended Cho Seung-shik who was a formal head of Criminal Department of Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office and Park Young-soo who was a formal director of Seoul High Public Prosecutor’s Office as candidates for the special investigator.. President Park needs to appoint one of them as the special investigator by the 2nd of December.
3 opposing parties are planning to continuously carry out procedures for her impeachment while scheduling of her resignation is carried out. Their positions are to prepare unitary plan for her impeachment according to their original schedules and motion a bill for her impeachment and enforce decisions from National Assembly.
South Korea’s citizens who watched her nationwide talk are divided into either believing that National Assembly needs to come up with swift decisions and smoothly transfer her government power or believing that her announcement has an intention of preventing members from her supporting party and ruling party from leaving as she faces procedures for her impeachment.
Staff Reporter Sung, Hyeonhee | sunghh@etnews.com