SNAP ELECTION WILL SHOW IF ANYTHING WAS LEARNT
Whether these lessons are learnt will soon be evident.
Stripped of his presidential powers, Yoon will face more intense criminal investigations. But the investigation must not be an exercise of political purge.
The key will be how the opposition party shapes the current political atmosphere. South Koreans will depend on it rising above narrow political interests and animosity toward the ousted president and his ruling party to seek a fair and just outcome.
Another test will be the upcoming presidential election, which must be held by Jun 3. We will see how much the Korean public and political parties engage in dialogue and compromise or stick to the past practice of demonising the other side.
South Koreans have always been proud of their democracy, which they fought for with blood and sweat against an authoritarian military regime. The recent political turmoil has tested the resilience of Korea’s democratic system and exposed its weaknesses.
It would be a waste not to learn from the painful lessons of the last 122 days.
Ryu Yongwook is an Assistant Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS. He specialises in International Relations, with a focus on East Asia.
