After being impeached by the National Assembly, President Park Geun-hye looks down as she convenes her last Cabinet meeting Friday, right before the vote that suspended her from office. She apologized to the nation again, and asked ministers to minimize any vacuum in government, and to work on the economy. / Korea Times
The National Assembly passed the motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal, Friday.
Park was suspended from office at 7:03 p.m. immediately after the result was officially delivered to the presidential office, and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn began working as acting head of state.
The President’s fate is now in the hands of the Constitutional Court, which is expected to make a ruling on whether the impeachment was valid in a few months.
Park is the second Korean president to be impeached after the late President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004. Roh was able to return to office thanks to wide public support after the Constitutional Court overturned the Assembly’s decision.
The impeachment motion, signed by 171 opposition and independent lawmakers, passed overwhelmingly with 234 in favor, 56 against, two abstentions and seven invalid votes in the 300-member Assembly. Pro-Park lawmaker Choi Kyung-hwan of the ruling Saenuri Party was absent.
This well exceeded the necessary approval of two-thirds of the 300 lawmakers required for its passage. [Korea Times]
You can read more at the link, but the most significant thing that has happened is that South Korea now has a new acting President which is Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.
ROK Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn
So who is Hwang? His a 59 year old lawyer who worked as a state prosecutor for 30 years before entering politics. He is well known for being a close confidant of President Park. In 2013 he served as the Justice Minister for Park before becoming the Prime Minister in 2015. ROK Heads may remember that back in July Hwang was detained by protesters outside of the selected THAAD site and pelted with eggs.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo and other government officials are trapped in a bus in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang, on Friday as an angry mob of residents protest the deployment of the Thaad system in their hometown. Hwang was also pelted with eggs and doused with water. [NEWSIS]I doubt Prime Minister Hwang will make any major policy decisions because of his close ties to Park that could lead to widespread public protests. That is why I think he will probably just be keeping the seat warm until the Constitution Court reviews the impeachment. The last impeachment of a ROK President occurred in 2004 with President Roh Moo-hyun. The Constitutional Court took 63 days to rule that the impeachment was not legal and he was reinstated. Considering the widespread public outrage against President Park I doubt she will be reinstated. However, the court has up to six months to rule on the legality of the impeachment. If they rule the impeachment is legal then an election will be held 60 days after the ruling. I think the conservative party will want this to drag on so they can select a candidate and organize a campaign to run against the Korean left wing parties who have taken maximum political advantage of the Park Geun-hye crisis.
It will continue to be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next few months.
Korea probably set precedent of the angry mob using impeachment as a threat against the president, which further complicates what they can do in a single 5 year term.
Nothing will change for the good. Korea will probably elect a leftist, which might complicate ROK relationship with a Trump led United States. The Olympics is right around the corner, and that’s all but certain pile on the debt and other liabilities.
ChickenHead
8 years ago
“So who is Hwang? His a 59 year old lawyer who worked as a state prosecutor for 59 years before entering politics.”
Why ~ how about another huge rally down at Gwanghwamun? I’m watching it on my tv as I type. I’ve said all along that the rallies were as much or more of a social event (the “in” place to be these days on a Saturday night) as they were about protesting against the President. The fact that people are out there again tonight just proves that.
@Guitard, the political opposition probably wants to keep the rallies going to first of all keep themselves in the spotlight and secondly maintain pressure on the Constitutional Court to uphold the impeachment.
@Joseph Lee, I don’t think Korea will necessarily elect a leftist. After having Park I think people will want someone who is a safe bet to run the country. That is why I think Ban Ki-moon if he decides to run will likely be the front runner.
ChickenHead
8 years ago
“That is why I think Ban Ki-moon if he decides to run will likely be the front runner.”
Not if Koreans realize the existential danger globalism poses to Korea as a nation, a culture, and a way of life.
Korea has succeded on its own terms and does not need open borders, unselective free trade, and forced tolerance of destructive foreign cultural traits and people.
A good bit of the developed world has been failed by globalism… as good aspects of their successful nations and cultures are being diluted with the poor ways of poor cultures from poor nations.
Fortunately, with Brexit, the election of Trump, and a few other events, many productive citizens seem to be gaining awareness that globalism is not in their best interests…
…and they can no longer be shamed into accepting globalism by being labeled racist, xenophobic, Islamaphobic, etc.
Korea needs to elect a leader that is looking out for Korea… not one who has loyalities to a global community.
Is there a safe bet to run the country? Lee Myung Bak seemed mostly clean, but the country had a hatefest on him not even a year after he was elected. The mad cow hysteria swept the nation during his tenure.
Ban Ki Moon is a sort of UN “globalist” that the Brexit and Trump crowd would not warm up to. I think Korea desperately needs someone educated in the west and isn’t afraid to propose some real reforms.
The Trump factor is definitely looming large for Korea. If they vote for a hardcore protectionist who taxes American imports, Trump…… won’t be pleased, to say the least. The Breitbart guys will urge Korean boycotts. I say 35% tariff on exploding Samsung phones is exactly what Korea deserves.
@setnaffa, Ban Ki-moon is not a leftist by ROK standards. He is well respected as a capable administrator which after the perceived incompetence of the Park administration may be something ROK voters are looking for.
@Chickenhead, Ban Ki-moon had to be a “globalist” to run the UN. I doubt he is going to want to have open borders and drive a Bank of Korea armored truck to Pyongyang to pay off the Kim regime. Some of these other guys on the Korean left that may run for President may do just that.
ChickenHead
8 years ago
A few thoughts:
“I am concerned that European countries are now adopting increasingly restrictive immigration and refugee policies,” Mr Ban told MPs in Vienna. “Such policies negatively affect the obligation of member states under international humanitarian law and European law.”
If Mr. Ban becomes the president of Korea, his past insistence on Europe accepting unlimited refugees can (and will) be used to leverage Korea into accepting refugees… and the reality is Korea does not need ANY refugees.
“Tolerance is much more than passively accepting the “other;” it brings obligations to act, and must be taught, nurtured and defended, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today”
Tolerance is a filthy word. There is no obligation to tolerate broken cultures filled with oppression who invade with hands out for benefits while demanding change to suit their desires. At this time, Korea does not tolerate so much of the cultural stupidity the western world now sees as normal. It should stay that way. Mr. Ban does not need to bring his message of tolerance back to Korea.
“Ban early on identified global warming as one of the key issues of his administration.”
That is the joke. The UN does nothing but fly around and stomp their carbon footprint on fancy restaurants and plush resorts in exotic places. From pollution to over-fishing to drug-resistant diseases, there are serious problems the world is increasingly facing with very clear negative outcomes. Fake climate change is a distraction… perhaps an intentional distraction. As a president of Korea, Mr. Ban needs priorities that benefit Korea.
“The Secretary-General is working with governments to meet their agreement to mobilize of $100 billion per year by 2020 in new and additional finance, and is committed to helping operationalize the Green Climate Fund so that the Fund can play a major role in delivering long-term climate finance.”
Which gets down to the wealth transfer aspect of climate change financing… in which its spending and benefits are rather murky. Korea can and should assist carefully chosen impoverished countries in education, infrastructure development, resource utilization, etc… both as payback for what the world has done for Korea and as a wise investment in developing future markets. Korea needs to spend its money to advance Korean interests… and it is possible to do this while helping others. Korea does not need to throw its resources into uncontrolled projects with no benefit.
Korea needs a nationalist and not a globalist.
My biggest problem with Mr. Ban is that the global media is in a clear campaign to anoint him as the next South Korean president… though I see no enthusiasm from Koreans I talk to.
As the global corporate media does not have the best interests of developed country’s middle class citizens in mind, this is a pretty obvious call to pay attention to what is happening and treat the message with suspicion and scrutiny.
In the end, Mr. Ban has far too much globalist baggage to lead Korea in the nationalist way necessary to maintain success with a country which really has no resources that don’t rely on the cultural unity and nationalist identity of its people.
He is a globalist, anti-Israel, and anti-Western Civilization. He makes the current Pope look conservative.
Just because Korea elected a Hangook version of Nancy Reagan and her astrologer is no reason to elect ANOTHER guy who will try to pay North Korea to be quiet (without success) and end up killing himself on a jogging trail.
Ban gets elected and South Korea will be a Muslim-majority nation or a war zone within 5 years. Unlimited immigration will destroy them as it is destroying Western Europe.
You CANNOT trust anyone who ignores borders, language, and culture. They do NOT have the nation’s best interests at heart. They’re either in the pay of foreign nationals or pathologically naive.
@Chickenhead, if Ban runs for the ROK Presidency I cannot imagine he is going to campaign on bringing in refugees. If he advocates for this I do not see how he gets elected. His opponents will assuredly grill him on this and he will have to respond with what his position will be.
MTB Rider
8 years ago
I know it’s a bit late in the game, but what, if anything, did Park herself do?
I’m seeing a lot of sneaky stuff happening behind her back by her “friends,” but did she actually do anything, call anyone, sign any documents?
Reminds me of something President Warren G. Harding said over the Teapot Dome Scandal:
“I can take care of my enemies all right,” Harding confided. “But my damn friends. My goddamn friends.”
Something to consider, if the Constitutional Court reverses the decision…
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Korea probably set precedent of the angry mob using impeachment as a threat against the president, which further complicates what they can do in a single 5 year term.
Nothing will change for the good. Korea will probably elect a leftist, which might complicate ROK relationship with a Trump led United States. The Olympics is right around the corner, and that’s all but certain pile on the debt and other liabilities.
“So who is Hwang? His a 59 year old lawyer who worked as a state prosecutor for 59 years before entering politics.”
Ah… the old Womb-to-Court pipeline.
What is next?
Why ~ how about another huge rally down at Gwanghwamun? I’m watching it on my tv as I type. I’ve said all along that the rallies were as much or more of a social event (the “in” place to be these days on a Saturday night) as they were about protesting against the President. The fact that people are out there again tonight just proves that.
@Chickenhead, good catch I fixed the typo.
@Guitard, the political opposition probably wants to keep the rallies going to first of all keep themselves in the spotlight and secondly maintain pressure on the Constitutional Court to uphold the impeachment.
@Joseph Lee, I don’t think Korea will necessarily elect a leftist. After having Park I think people will want someone who is a safe bet to run the country. That is why I think Ban Ki-moon if he decides to run will likely be the front runner.
“That is why I think Ban Ki-moon if he decides to run will likely be the front runner.”
Not if Koreans realize the existential danger globalism poses to Korea as a nation, a culture, and a way of life.
Korea has succeded on its own terms and does not need open borders, unselective free trade, and forced tolerance of destructive foreign cultural traits and people.
A good bit of the developed world has been failed by globalism… as good aspects of their successful nations and cultures are being diluted with the poor ways of poor cultures from poor nations.
Fortunately, with Brexit, the election of Trump, and a few other events, many productive citizens seem to be gaining awareness that globalism is not in their best interests…
…and they can no longer be shamed into accepting globalism by being labeled racist, xenophobic, Islamaphobic, etc.
Korea needs to elect a leader that is looking out for Korea… not one who has loyalities to a global community.
Is there a safe bet to run the country? Lee Myung Bak seemed mostly clean, but the country had a hatefest on him not even a year after he was elected. The mad cow hysteria swept the nation during his tenure.
Ban Ki Moon is a sort of UN “globalist” that the Brexit and Trump crowd would not warm up to. I think Korea desperately needs someone educated in the west and isn’t afraid to propose some real reforms.
The Trump factor is definitely looming large for Korea. If they vote for a hardcore protectionist who taxes American imports, Trump…… won’t be pleased, to say the least. The Breitbart guys will urge Korean boycotts. I say 35% tariff on exploding Samsung phones is exactly what Korea deserves.
Ban Ki-moon is a leftist. That’s who the UN picks.
@setnaffa, Ban Ki-moon is not a leftist by ROK standards. He is well respected as a capable administrator which after the perceived incompetence of the Park administration may be something ROK voters are looking for.
@Chickenhead, Ban Ki-moon had to be a “globalist” to run the UN. I doubt he is going to want to have open borders and drive a Bank of Korea armored truck to Pyongyang to pay off the Kim regime. Some of these other guys on the Korean left that may run for President may do just that.
A few thoughts:
“I am concerned that European countries are now adopting increasingly restrictive immigration and refugee policies,” Mr Ban told MPs in Vienna. “Such policies negatively affect the obligation of member states under international humanitarian law and European law.”
If Mr. Ban becomes the president of Korea, his past insistence on Europe accepting unlimited refugees can (and will) be used to leverage Korea into accepting refugees… and the reality is Korea does not need ANY refugees.
“Tolerance is much more than passively accepting the “other;” it brings obligations to act, and must be taught, nurtured and defended, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today”
Tolerance is a filthy word. There is no obligation to tolerate broken cultures filled with oppression who invade with hands out for benefits while demanding change to suit their desires. At this time, Korea does not tolerate so much of the cultural stupidity the western world now sees as normal. It should stay that way. Mr. Ban does not need to bring his message of tolerance back to Korea.
“Ban early on identified global warming as one of the key issues of his administration.”
That is the joke. The UN does nothing but fly around and stomp their carbon footprint on fancy restaurants and plush resorts in exotic places. From pollution to over-fishing to drug-resistant diseases, there are serious problems the world is increasingly facing with very clear negative outcomes. Fake climate change is a distraction… perhaps an intentional distraction. As a president of Korea, Mr. Ban needs priorities that benefit Korea.
“The Secretary-General is working with governments to meet their agreement to mobilize of $100 billion per year by 2020 in new and additional finance, and is committed to helping operationalize the Green Climate Fund so that the Fund can play a major role in delivering long-term climate finance.”
Which gets down to the wealth transfer aspect of climate change financing… in which its spending and benefits are rather murky. Korea can and should assist carefully chosen impoverished countries in education, infrastructure development, resource utilization, etc… both as payback for what the world has done for Korea and as a wise investment in developing future markets. Korea needs to spend its money to advance Korean interests… and it is possible to do this while helping others. Korea does not need to throw its resources into uncontrolled projects with no benefit.
Korea needs a nationalist and not a globalist.
My biggest problem with Mr. Ban is that the global media is in a clear campaign to anoint him as the next South Korean president… though I see no enthusiasm from Koreans I talk to.
As the global corporate media does not have the best interests of developed country’s middle class citizens in mind, this is a pretty obvious call to pay attention to what is happening and treat the message with suspicion and scrutiny.
In the end, Mr. Ban has far too much globalist baggage to lead Korea in the nationalist way necessary to maintain success with a country which really has no resources that don’t rely on the cultural unity and nationalist identity of its people.
GI,
He is a globalist, anti-Israel, and anti-Western Civilization. He makes the current Pope look conservative.
Just because Korea elected a Hangook version of Nancy Reagan and her astrologer is no reason to elect ANOTHER guy who will try to pay North Korea to be quiet (without success) and end up killing himself on a jogging trail.
You “doubt”; but that’s the way those boys roll. Even DJ was that kind of fruitloop.
Ban gets elected and South Korea will be a Muslim-majority nation or a war zone within 5 years. Unlimited immigration will destroy them as it is destroying Western Europe.
You CANNOT trust anyone who ignores borders, language, and culture. They do NOT have the nation’s best interests at heart. They’re either in the pay of foreign nationals or pathologically naive.
@Chickenhead, if Ban runs for the ROK Presidency I cannot imagine he is going to campaign on bringing in refugees. If he advocates for this I do not see how he gets elected. His opponents will assuredly grill him on this and he will have to respond with what his position will be.
I know it’s a bit late in the game, but what, if anything, did Park herself do?
I’m seeing a lot of sneaky stuff happening behind her back by her “friends,” but did she actually do anything, call anyone, sign any documents?
Reminds me of something President Warren G. Harding said over the Teapot Dome Scandal:
Something to consider, if the Constitutional Court reverses the decision…