The fall of South Korean President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal is a lesson in democracy 101. From the time hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest against her leadership to the Constitutional Court’s vote on Friday that set in motion impeachment proceedings, the South Korean people and government showed the world how not to start a civil war but how to maintain civil rights.
Park had been accused of allowing a shadowy confidante to hold extraordinary sway over government decisions despite holding no official government position, and of helping her extort tens of millions of dollars from South Korean companies. These charges leveled at Park, of abuse of power, fraud and coercion, are serious, the biggest presidential scandal since the nation’s democratization almost three decades ago, and one which could have led to riots and bloodshed. But in a sign of how mature South Korea’s democracy is, largely peaceful crowds achieved their goal without a single arrest, without a single shot being fired, without a single death or injury. If it weren’t for bright red picket signs, large banners with the word “revolution,” and chants of “Park Geun-hye resign,” the lively scenes might have seemed more like a festival than an entire nation in a state of protest.
Had the authorities in Seoul taken advantage of this congenial atmosphere and not taken any meaningful steps to correct what had gone wrong in the presidency, the protests in Seoul which were peaceful and orderly could have started to get out of hand, and out of the government’s control until the proverbial levee broke.
Instead, the government took action, swiftly. Less than two months after the demonstrations started, lawmakers in South Korea’s National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to impeach President Park. The vote was 234-56 with six abstentions. The country’s Constitutional Court will now deliberate the impeachment motion, a process that could take up to 180 days. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will be acting president for the duration of the court’s deliberation.
During and after this peaceful transfer of power, Park did not reject the vote, did not barricade the presidential doors and vow to continue ruling no matter what. She did not declare a state of emergency, deploy army tanks onto the streets or impose a curfew. Rather, she apologized on national TV, saying she was careless and had caused a “big national chaos.” No teargas, no bullets - rubber or real - no batons, no bloodied faces. Just an apology.
The handover of power prompted the prime minister to order South Korea’s defense minister to put the military on a state of heightened readiness – not to quell an insurgency but to brace for any potential provocation by North Korea.
The last time South Koreans took to the streets to kick out an unpopular leader, in 1960, they had to fight bloody battles with police officers armed with rifles. In previous decades, when South Koreans demanded more democracy, their military leaders, including Park’s father, brutally suppressed them through martial law, torturing and even executing their leaders. South Korea has come a long way since. Few countries outside the democratic order could have boasted such a conclusion witnessed Friday if their people and government faced a similar situation.
The Constitutional Court’s nine members need to return a two-thirds majority to oust Park. In that case, a new election would be held within 60 days. The chances of the court reinstating Park are considered low because the charges against her are grave. However, it is not impossible that the court rules that Park can remain in office. We shall see what South Koreans will do should that day arrive. Meanwhile, South Korea should be held up as a shining example of a liberal democracy.
