BOTH sides of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) are in crisis. North Korea, however impoverished and insular, has grabbed international attention owing to its nuclear ambition and now the killing of its President’s half-brother. At another remove, governance in South Korea has been shaken to its foundations with Friday’s dramatic development that renders Park Geun-hye, the first democratically-elected President of South Korea, to be forced out of office. The constitutional court has upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach her over a corruption and cronyism scandal that could see her face criminal charges. The eight judges of the court have upheld December’s impeachment motion of the National Assembly.
The highest judiciary has reaffirmed the legislature’s principal charges against Park ~ extortion, bribery, abuse of power and leaking of government secrets. In most countries, the concept of the law taking its course regretfully remains a consummation devoutly wished; the fact that it attained fruition in Seoul on Friday testifies to its inherent democratic certitudes. Park will now have to forfeit the executive immunity to criminal indictment that she enjoyed as the country’s President. Having held the rarefied office for four years, she has now met an ignominious end. The verdict is a searing indictment of Park’s rule ~ “The President’s actions have seriously impaired the spirit of democracy and the rule of law. Her actions betrayed the people’s confidence. They are a grave violation of law, which cannot be tolerated. President Park Geun-Hye has been dismissed.”
The waters of the South are now no less murky than in the North. It bears recall that Park’s impeachment in December came after months of deeply damaging revelations about her relationship with Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend with whom she is suspected of conspiring to secure donations worth tens of millions of dollars from major companies for foundations set up by Choi. Samsung, for instance, donated, $36 million ~ more than any other firm ~ to the foundations and allegedly gave millions of euros to Choi to fund her daughter’s equestrian training in Germany. The firm has strongly denied allegations that it expected political favours from Park in return. She has also been accused of allowing Choi to secretly meddle in state affairs, including economic policy and Seoul’s relations with the North Korean regime in Pyongyang. A new leader will have to be elected within 60 days. As Park Geun-hye steps out of Blue House ~ the presidential palace ~ she bequeaths a direly depleted legacy to the next occupant.