Political bigwigs from rival parties Thursday urged President Park Geun-hye to build a bipartisan government, highlighting that the measure is the only way to salvage the nation amid the growing cronyism scandal involving Park’s confidante Choi Soon-sil.

“I don’t think we can maintain the current system as the people don’t trust the nation,” said Kim Moo-sung, a former leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, adding that that he agreed with the idea to establish the bipartisan Cabinet proposed by presidential hopefuls across party lines. 

His remark came a day after Minjoo Party of Korea’s former leader Moon Jae-in suggested the nation elect a new Prime Minister to navigate through the turmoil. The main opposition’s presidential hopeful also said that a new justice minster should be appointed to investigate the cronyism scandal.

But the government appeared to be reluctant to heed the call. Earlier in the day, Cheong Wa Dae maintained silence over the call, saying that it had “no comment” when asked by reporters whether it would reshuffle the presidential office and Cabinet members.

Incumbent Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn echoed the government’s position. “I have concerns whether (a government reshuffle) would benefit the management of the state. I’m afraid it would end up just as talk without achieving anything,” Hwang told the lawmakers at the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Justice Party, a far-left minority with six lawmakers, said Thursday that it will start outdoor rallies to unseat President Park, becoming the first within South Korea’s political establishment to officially call for her to be ousted over the unraveling fiasco.

“A majority of the public think President Park should be stripped of ruling power,” said Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, the party’s chairwoman. 

A poll released on the day showed 42 percent of the public want Park out of the presidential office – either voluntarily or by impeachment.

Despite the agreement to launch a special probe into the unfolding scandal involving Choi, political parties remained divided over how to run the independent prosecutors. 

Saenuri said the government can rely on current laws to adopt the special counsel, but Minjoo countered that the Assembly should enact a new law to name the prosecutor with an authority to investigate the president.

According to the Act on the Appointment of Independent Prosecutors, the president can elect the counsel among seven candidates proposed by the Judiciary branch, legal community and the Assembly.

Minjoo lawmakers fear that the president and Saenuri could choose the prosecutors in their favor because they have sway over only two seats assigned for opposition parties. The other five seats, they said, would be filled with candidates close to the government.

If the new bill clears the Assembly, the lawmakers would decide the scope and period of the independent prosecutors. The current law stipulates that the special counsel must finish their investigation within 90 days after they begin their work.

Saenuri, on the other hand, maintained that the current law should be applied and that the incumbent president should be exempt from being prosecuted. According to the current law, the president is not subject to charges for criminal offense during his or her tenure. 

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)