Seoul: Nationwide rallies erupted across South Korea on March 1 as citizens voiced their opinions on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Approximately 120,000 people gathered in Gwanghwamun and Yeouido to oppose the impeachment, while around 18,000 attended a pro-impeachment rally near the Constitutional Court. The completion of the court's final hearings on the impeachment trial has fueled public demonstrations, but the real concern lies in the actions of political leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties.
According to Yonhap News Agency, at the impeachment opposition rally in Yeouido, 37 lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP), including Kim Gi-hyeon, Choo Kyung-ho, and Na Kyung-won, were present. These politicians openly praised President Yoon, who had plunged the nation into chaos with a sudden declaration of martial law. Kim hailed Yoon as "a leader willing to walk a thorny path for the sake of the country," while Na described him as "a truly courageous leader." Conversely, over 100 lawmakers from the Democratic Party (DP), led by Lee Jae-myung, attended the pro-impeachment rally, condemning the ruling party as "not even a legitimate conservative force, but merely a reactionary faction."
South Korea is currently navigating through social unrest and economic challenges following Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Instead of collaborating to address these pressing issues, both parties have resorted to political grandstanding and incendiary remarks at polarized rallies. Crucial negotiations in the National Assembly on matters like a supplementary budget, pension reform, and the Special Act on Semiconductors have been derailed by obstinacy and political theatrics.
On Feb. 27, the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Democracy Index 2024 revealed a decline in Korea's democratic status, downgrading it from a "full democracy" to a "flawed democracy." Korea's ranking fell from 22nd to 32nd out of 167 countries due to "Korea's declaration of martial law and the subsequent political deadlock." The refusal of both parties to engage in cooperative governance, opting instead for political blame games, has contributed to this democratic regression.
Further complicating matters, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae boycotted a scheduled trilateral consultative body discussion, demanding the appointment of Moon Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice. Meanwhile, the government and ruling party have stalled pension reform negotiations by insisting on an automatic adjustment mechanism for the national pension system. These actions raise questions about whether either side genuinely prioritizes the welfare of the people.
Instead of leveraging public discontent for political gain, both the PPP and the DP should focus on dialogue, compromise, and pragmatic governance. By resisting the allure of street politics, they can earn the public's trust, especially from centrist voters, and work towards rescuing a nation besieged by crises.