The impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye has created a crisis on multiple fronts. It brings uncertainty about the domestic affairs of the country, as well as its foreign policy.
Importantly, the controversy also highlights the fact that corruption and other forms of wrongdoing are prevalent even in the top most rungs of not only the political leadership but also at every other platform of every country. The image built by South Korea that it had outlived its filthy corrupt political past has been badly dented by the impeachment of President Park.
The uncertainty over foreign policy assumes great significance against the backdrop of neighbouring North Korea’s stand on nuclear power and its belligerence following the imposition of the toughest-ever sanctions on it recently by the United Nations.
Park had taken a tough stand against the Pyongyang regime and was an able ally for the United States and other nations in this regard. She had recently agreed to deploy an American advanced missile defence system.
The woes on this score are compounded as the United States itself is in a transition mode politically, though there are indications that President-elect Donald Trump will take a tough stand on such issues.
The impeachment has also put a cloud over the annual Korea-Japan-China summit scheduled to be held in Tokyo in December, which also takes steps with the aim of felicitating resolution of territorial and historical issues in the region. It could create an obstacle to bilateral cooperation between Japan and South Korea over an intelligence sharing agreement that was signed recently.
The impeachment might create uncertainty on the domestic front as Park has given no indication of resigning. Rather, she seems set to battle it out in court, amid calls that she be removed permanently. Those who called for her impeachment hope that the constitutional court will vote to remove her.
This would require an election for a new President to be held within 60 days. However, the ruling that will be delivered by the constitutional court is difficult to predict as this would require six of the nine judges to vote to this effect. This may not happen as many of the judges are known to be sympathisers of Park’s party.
Besides, even if the court formally removes Park, the time that the process, including the hearings, will consume should give her party time to prepare for the elections that will follow. This leaves the country with little indication of what the future political leadership will be.
The focus is, however, on corruption among the top political leadership. The government of Park’s father and the subsequent ones have favoured a few conglomerates in various ways, including tax benefits, licences and anti-labour policies.
These business houses are alleged to have returned the favours by giving bribes and making donations. In the present day, Indians too, will find many similarities between South Korean politics and that of India.
Many claim that the current heated debate on demonetisation is based on one such issue of undue favours being shown by government to a few corporate that are being allow to corner massive chunks of various markets.
Like the South Koreans, Indians also will come to know of present day wrong doings at a much later date. In the same breath, it can be said that just as the South Koreans could figure out the corruption of President Park, similarly, Indians too will very soon realise the damages being inflicted on the country by present day rulers.
