[Editorial] Acting president

The impeachment clock is ticking. All things considered, the vote to impeach President Park Geun-hye is all but certain to proceed Friday and earn enough votes from lawmakers to pass the National Assembly. Park herself stated Tuesday her readiness to accept the outcome of the impeachment vote. She made the statement in a meeting with ruling party leader Lee Jung-hyun and floor leader Chung Jin-suk at Cheong Wa Dae. Park said that if the impeachment bill passed, she would do what she could do for

Dec. 6, 2016

[Editorial] After impeachment vote

Over the past six weeks, President Park Geun-hye and Cheong Wa Dae might have destroyed some evidence on the allegations of the influence-peddling scandal involving her civilian friend Choi Soon-sil, as they continuously rejected angry citizens’ demands to resign.The prosecution, which had confiscated some documents from a presidential secretarial office, has not raided Park’s office despite designating her as a suspect. Its choice might have come in consideration of the incumbent state leader’s

Dec. 5, 2016

[Editorial] Uncertainties abound

Opposition parties submitted a motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye, Saturday, vowing to get it through a full session of the National Assembly on Friday.The motion -- the second of its kind after the one against President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 -- is the first legal, parliamentary action taken against Park in connection with the influence-peddling and corruption scandal that has been shaking the nation for more than six weeks.But the planned parliamentary vote, which otherwise should help th

Dec. 4, 2016

[Editorial] Finding the truth

There are two things that must be done regarding the influence-peddling and corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her associates: Removing Park from her office and getting to the bottom of all the allegations. There is no doubt that Park’s exit should come as soon as possible and in as stable a way as possible. Unfortunately, that is unlikely, in view of the latest developments, including the divisions among major political leaders over Park’s fate. What is also important -- r

Dec. 2, 2016

[Editorial] Suspect's Constitution

In the wake of the Park Geun-hye scandal, the nation may face its seventh referendum next year. However, the possibility of this happening is very low.Nevertheless, it is feasible that the Saenuri Party will aggressively push for constitutional amendments -- as many of its lawmakers and Park have mentioned so far -- in a desperate bid to keep the presidency from being transferred to liberal hands.The ruling party, which has 129 parliamentary seats of the total 300, could propose a bill on revisi

Dec. 1, 2016

[Editorial] Park’s accomplices

President Park Geun-hye’s offer to leave her fate to the National Assembly – an apparent bid to avoid an impending impeachment and buy time – gives a clue to why her loyalists in the Saenuri Party resisted the ferocious public demand that they give up control of the ruling party. In her third national address since the scandal broke out more than a month ago, Park said Tuesday she would step down from her post early if the National Assembly sets the timetable and method for a “stable transition.

Nov. 30, 2016

[Editorial] Just halt duties

Embattled President Park Geun-hye remains unblushing as she again rejected citizens’ demands for an “immediate” resignation in another public address on Tuesday.Instead, Park seemingly chose to follow those loyal to her in the ruling Saenuri Party, composed of Suh Chung-won and seven others, who recommended that she make an “honorary retreat,” via constitutional amendments involving slashing her term reportedly. In her address she asked the National Assembly to set a timetable for her future exi

Nov. 29, 2016

[Editorial] Crucial week

The political crisis stemming from the Choi Soon-sil scandal has entered a crucial stage, with a set of important events scheduled for later this week. First, the National Assembly will launch its own investigation into the scandal Wednesday, by hearing testimonies from officials at relevant government offices like the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office. Highlights of the parliamentary investigation, which could last up to 60 days, will be hearings in whi

Nov. 28, 2016

[Editorial] Election mode

Time is up. The nation confirmed over the weekend that President Park Geun-hye has already been “impeached by citizens,” as the National Assembly fine-tunes plans to propose and vote on an impeachment motion.Most South Koreans no longer regard Park as their president, with polls showing that 24 out of every 25 citizens do not support her. On Saturday, about 1.9 million people (or 3.6 percent of the population) took to the streets nationwide in a historic rally to demand that she quit.It is hard

Nov. 27, 2016

[Other view] How Trump can help Medicaid

President-elect Donald Trump has already stepped back from his campaign pledge to entirely repeal Obamacare, saying he’ll keep a couple of the law’s popular insurance protections. Soon enough, certain governors in his own party can be expected to argue that it would also be smart to retain the law’s most successful component: the expansion of Medicaid. Trump should take that advice.　Thirty-one states -- 11 led by Republicans -- have accepted Obamacare funding to extend Medicaid to anyone earning

Nov. 25, 2016

[Editorial] Investigators’ showdown

Citizens are closely watching the prosecution’s movements over its investigation into the Park Geun-hye scandal. The ongoing probe is offering a timely opportunity for the agency to regain some of its recently plummeted public credibility.　Some still criticize the prosecutors saying that they are pretending to work after succumbing to the public’s anger over its belated investigation into the influence-peddling involving the incumbent president and her civilian friend Choi Soon-sil. In contrast,

Nov. 25, 2016

[Editorial] Jang’s meddling

The Park Geun-hye scandal has grown again to include a new figure, Jang Si-ho, who has been placed under custody for embezzlement. Earlier this month, Jang gained attention after she sought to sell her land in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, at a bargain price.Jang, 37, has been identified as the niece of Choi Soon-sil, President Park’s civilian friend who meddled in state affairs. Jang is a daughter of Choi’s elder sister Soon-deuk, but little has been revealed about the latter.Allegations against Jang

Nov. 23, 2016

[Editorial] One way out

It is hard to accept, but it seems almost inevitable that Koreans will have to continue living with a president who about 90 percent of them think is unfit for the post. This is primarily because there is no way to immediately bring Park down from her post or force her to take a backseat in running the government. State prosecutors now say Park herself is a criminal suspect in the Choi Soon-sil corruption and influence-peddling case, which would probably make people even more frustrated and enra

Nov. 22, 2016

[Editorial] Ex-prosecutors in Blue House

It has been about a month since the Park Geun-hye scandal initially shook the nation. While she has yet to deliver a televised speech since making a second public apology on Nov. 4, fresh allegations are further amplifying public anger.Apart from Park’s nongovernmental confidante Choi Soon-sil, who was indicted on charges of meddling in state affairs on Sunday, some media outlets are raising the possibility of secretive relations between Choi and Kim Ki-chun, formerly presidential chief of staff

Nov. 21, 2016

[Editorial] Park’s defiance

The latest developments of the Choi Soon-sil scandal show that the political crisis will not end any time soon. What is clear is that President Park Geun-hye will not give in to demands that she step down voluntarily. What is also obvious is that it will not be easy for the divided opposition to bring her down from her post. With Park turning defiant and politicians not giving clear-cut answers, anti-Park protesters filled the streets of Seoul and other major cities across the country for the fo

Nov. 20, 2016

[Editorial] Economic woes

The Choi Soon-sil scandal that has been shaking the nation for weeks is adding adversity to the national economy. Most of all, the leadership crisis and political instability caused by the huge scandal has left the economic policy team without an authoritative helmsman and dealt a blow to the psyche of the business sector. The Korean economy was already facing formidable challenges here and abroad before the fiasco began. Within the country, traditionally strong industries such as shipbuilding,

Nov. 18, 2016

[Editorial] Red card

Cheong Wa Dae has dismissed the possibility of President Park Geun-hye’s resignation. But this sort of provocative response -- via spokespeople after her two public apologies -- to angry citizens’ demands may reveal the immense physiological pressure that the incumbent administration is under.In addition, the presidential office’s comments on a possible impeachment bill appear to reflect Park’s beleaguered position. While it said impeachment was “the authority of the National Assembly,” the rema

Nov. 17, 2016

[Editorial] Simply incapable

The Choi Soon-sil scandal and the ensuing political crisis show how incapable political leaders here are of running the nation, especially in times of crisis. Basically, the problem was that the wrong person was elected as our leader -- although it is doubtful that other choices would have done any better. Now we find that the person to whom we assigned mandate was free to abuse it. But whatever wrong we and Park Geun-hye did are things of the past. What is important is to get to the bottom of a

Nov. 16, 2016

[Editorial] Patience test

Lawmakers, political parties, media outlets and academics are all at odds over the fate of President Park Geun-hye.Given the uniqueness of the situation, their indecisiveness is understandable -- the allegations Park allowed her confidante Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs is unprecedented in the nation’s modern history.However, it seems some politicians, including presidential hopefuls, are trying to count their chickens before they have hatched. They are either misreading, neglecting or

Nov. 15, 2016

[Editorial] First thing to do

Usually, lies and cover-up attempts amplify problems in a mega scandal like that of Choi Soon-sil. Just recall how what had appeared to be a break-in at the Watergate building evolved and resulted in the resignation of Richard Nixon. President Park Geun-hye lied when she said the first allegations raised against her longtime friend -- regarding the Mir and K-Sports foundations -- were nothing but “groundless accusations.” Later, she acknowledged some misdeeds, though only for which the media cam

Nov. 14, 2016