Is a Donald Trump-led US a reason to salvage the embattled presidency in South Korea or ditch it as soon as possible?
The election of the Republican real estate mogul as the US’ president appears to have widened the chasm between Korea’s conservative and liberal opposition camps in their bickering over a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.
President Park’s governing Saenuri Party on Thursday stressed the need for strong leadership to navigate the security and economic uncertainties presented by the results of the US election, urging its dissenting members and opposition parties to stop attacking the embattled Park.
Opposition parties, on the other hand, used the US election surprise as an opportunity to up the ante against President Park, saying the scandal-ridden president is incapable of shaping Korea’s response. They demanded Park give up her power as head of nation as soon as possible.
Since the allegation surfaced that President Park’s confidante Choi Soon-sil could have been involved with her economic and security initiatives, the president’s governing ability has been thrown into question and demands for her resignation have ensued.
But Park has appeared to maintain her grip on state affairs despite the call to yield her power to the legislative body.
Earlier in the day, she made a call to President-elect Trump and elicited his commitment to the bilateral security alliance. Trump had advocated the withdrawal of troops in South Korea on his campaign trail.
“We are faced with a crisis at home and abroad as Trump’s winning the election has increased security and economic uncertainties,” said Rep. Lee Jang-woo, a member of Saenuri’s decision-making Supreme Council. “Opposition parties should help us bring the nation back on track.”
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(Yonhap) |
Hours before Trump was elected Thursday, Saenuri leadership called an emergency meeting with relevant government agencies to come up with strategies. Earlier in the day, ranking Saenuri members held a series of seminars with foreign affairs experts to discuss the Trump agenda.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, meanwhile, stepped up their attack on the president, warning that Park and her governing party should stop using the Trump issue as a rationale for the beleaguered president to return to power.
“People will be outraged if the president takes advantage of Trump issues to justify herself, “said Democratic Party’s leader Rep. Choo Mi-ae. “The president has been mocked overseas by her scandal. How could she attend a summit (with Donald Trump)?”
Referring to the New York Time’s satirical cartoon published Sunday -- which depicted Park being “operated” by Choi -- the Democratic Party leader insisted the president continue to refrain from attending international events. Park has cancelled her scheduled visit to an Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit next week.
By Yeo Jun-suk (
jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)
