Pivotal week for Park as impeachment drive shapes up

The fate of President Park Geun-hye appears to be hanging in the balance as the opposition parties are poised to introduce a motion for her impeachment to be put to a vote as early as Friday. 

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and minor opposition People’s Party are also due to recommend two candidates Tuesday to steer an independent special investigation into a political corruption scandal involving Park and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.

Hit by a demonstration Saturday that brought together more than 1.9 million people across the country, the embattled president is considering offering another apology this week, Cheong Wa Dae officials said, though its efficacy remains doubtful given the bitter public sentiment. 

After consultations, the opposition camp is forecast to propose Wednesday the impeachment bill, which will be sent to the plenary session the following day. The vote could take place as early as this Friday and no later than Dec. 9. 

The two opposition parties, along with the splinter Justice Party, will decide on the time table of the vote Wednesday, Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho said Sunday.

The 300-strong National Assembly is likely to approve the motion, with 172 opposition and independent members and nearly 40 ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers having expressed their consent. It requires two-thirds of ballots in a floor vote.

Once the motion is passed, Park’s duties are suspended and transferred to Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.

“The National Assembly must humbly uphold the will of the people and respond with strong and firm solidarity toward impeachment,” Democratic Party of Korea floor spokesperson Rep. Ki Dong-min said at a news briefing, referring to the massive candlelight vigil Saturday. 

“In line with the people’s demands, not only the opposition parties, but also conscientious forces within the ruling party should join the united front to bring an end to the Park Geun-hye administration.”

People’s Party interim chief and floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won provided an upbeat outlook for the bill’s passage, quoting some Saenuri lawmakers as saying more than 60 of its members would give their consent.

The party’s former Chair Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo warned ruling party officials against “political calculations” that would amount to “yet again betraying the people who braved the cold to take to the streets.”

“Democratic Party and conscientious Saenuri Party lawmakers, (should) join us in impeaching the president,” Park Jie-won said during a lecture at Chosun University in Gwangju.

“Pro-Park (Geun-hye) Saenuri legislators, too, should search their souls and come around to our cause, and we must pursue patience, concessions and compromises till the end, for the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, who is our public enemy.”

While anti-Park Saenuri lawmakers gather force to back the impeachment drive, the party issued official commentaries simply saying it respects the citizens for their peaceful and orderly behavior during the rally, as well as their resolve.

A group of 27 former and incumbent Saenuri members including Gyeonggi Province Gov. Nam Gyung-pil held a meeting later in the day, urging the party to facilitate the impeachment procedure and ultimately disband to take responsibility for acting as the president’s “accomplice.”

“The impeachment motion should be done by Dec. 9. If it pointlessly drags on, the people’s patience will reach its limit,” Nam said at a news conference. “The historical life of the Saenuri Party has ended. Sticking to the party because of any lingering chance of power and vested interests run counter to the popular sentiment.”

Park, meanwhile, is coming under ever-mounting pressure also from the prosecution, which has notified the presidential office she has to undergo a face-to-face questioning no later than Tuesday.

But Cheong Wa Dae and her lawyer continues to keep mum, apparently being mindful of the forthcoming special investigation in which her interview would be nearly impossible.

After the opposition parties unveil nominees Tuesday, the president is required to appoint the lead investigator within three days. The team, which would consist of more than 100 prosecutors and other personnel, has up to 120 days to probe the sprawling scandal. 

The investigation is tasked with looking into 15 sets of allegations surrounding the president and her civilian confidante Choi. These include whether Park allowed or assisted Choi’s perceived meddling in foreign and security policies and other confidential state affairs; the creation of two culture and sports foundations that virtually served as her slush funds; Samsung and other major conglomerates’ bankrolling of the horse riding trainings of Choi’s daughter; and former top Presidential Civil Affairs Secretary Woo Byung-woo’s connivance or protection of related irregularities.

In another development, a parliament-public committee in charge of examining the scandal is forecast to accelerate its work starting Wednesday, with scheduled briefings from involved agencies including the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office and the culture, justice and health ministries.

Speculation is growing that Park might give another apology to defuse nationwide protests this week.

Given her approval ratings, which have plunged to 4 percent, the move would do little -- if anything -- to soothe public sentiment, observers say.

Signs of a lame-duck presidency are also rising, such as last week’s resignation offers from Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong and new Senior Presidential Civil Affairs Secretary Choi Jai-kyung.

“We’re prudently considering delivering the president’s message ahead of the impeachment vote,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said. “Whether it would take the form of a public statement or news conference, we will make a decision after listening to various opinions.”

By Shin Hyon-hee(heeshin@heraldcorp.com)