The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea‘s toughened stance fuels political offensive against embattled president

Opposition parties on Tuesday braced themselves for a battle against President Park Geun-hye and the ruling Saenuri Party, after agreeing to demand that the scandal-ridden leader step down.

The joint action followed a change of tone by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, which had previously called for the president’s partial renunciation of power.

Facing such a concerted offensive from the opposition, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae continued to hold ground, rebuffing the growing calls for the president to give up her power.

“The Democratic Party has decided (to demand) an orderly resignation, so as to minimize the confusion in state affairs,” said the Democratic Party floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho in a party meeting.

Woo’s remarks were a reiteration of the party’s decision on the previous day that it would demand that Park officially step down from her post. The party had previously said Park should take a back seat and avoid involvement in most state affairs, entrusting them to an opposition-backed prime minister.

The opposition’s official slogan is an “orderly resignation” of the president, indicating that Park should first pledge to step down, constitute a transition Cabinet and then bid an early farewell to her presidency.

A by-election is then to be held within 60 days to select a succeeding state chief who will not just take the seat for what remains of Park’s term, but for a full five-year term.

This political road map is deemed a compromise between the hard-liners’ call for Park’s immediate resignation and the concerns over the resulting vacuum in state powers.

This toughened stance finally placed the main opposition camp on the same line with the rest of the opposition camp -- the runner-up People’s Party and the progressive Justice Party, both of which have been calling for Park’s immediate ouster.

The two minority opposition parties, who voiced complaints against the Democratic Party’s earlier move to negotiate with the president, welcomed the main opposition’s move and vowed unity.

The Democratic Party’s renewed political determination was largely reflected in the words of Moon Jae-in, its former chief and ranking presidential hopeful.

“I shall work with the people on a nationwide withdrawal movement (of Park) until the president announces an unconditional resignation,” Moon said in a press conference, citing the irrevocability of the incumbent situation.

The Democratic bigshot also elaborated on why he and his party remained rather passive in calling for Park’s resignation.

“Despite the utter shame and fury which I felt over the corruption and state affairs interference scandal, I have endured as much as possible, even putting up with the critical voices asking for a clearer, sterner stance,” he said.

“This was out of cordiality to minimize state affairs and to open a retreat path for the president, but our efforts were discarded by the president.”

Moon also referred to the massive candlelight protest held on Saturday in central Seoul and around the country, a record-breaking event said to have gathered over 1 million participants.

“The people’s cries were an expression of despair, an order to step beyond the president’s resignation and to achieve a change of government,” he said, alluding to the upcoming presidential race.

The nation’s 19th presidential election was slated for December 2017 but will be moved forward to earlier next year if Park resigns.

But Cheong Wa Dae, though yet reluctant to speak out on the issue, continued to suggest that Park will neither resign nor hand over power to the Cabinet.

“The president is considering all possible measures,” presidential spokesperson Jung Youn-kuk told reporters once again.

When asked whether the measures include resignation, Jung hastily added that he only meant “measures to reinstate state affairs,” apparently dismissing calls for the termination of Park’s presidency.

Also, a number of Blue House officials insist that talk of Park’s resignation should come after the prosecution’s ongoing investigation, as well as the incoming independent counsel‘s investigation.

Ever since a series of news reports pointed out late last month that presidential confidante Choi Soon-sil meddled in key state affairs, public calls have been mounting on the president for valid countermeasures, be it an explanation, apology or resignation.

By Bae Hyun-jung ()


koreaherald@heraldcorp.com