Organizing outdoor gatherings cannot solve the crisis

The Democratic Party (DP) launched a campaign to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol at an outdoor rally in central Seoul. Most of the majority party’s lawmakers, including its leader Lee Jae-myung, and other protesters staged a massive demonstration to denounce first lady Kim Keon Hee for her repeated interventions in national affairs.

The rally appears to be aimed at pressuring the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the president to cooperate with the opposition’s special motion to investigate the first lady’s alleged corruption. But the real goal of the protest was to oust the president from power. The DP has vowed to continue these open-air rallies to shape public opinion against the presidential couple – and ultimately impeach the president in the National Assembly, as it did in late 2016 before impeaching President Park Geun -hye.

The controversy surrounding a powerful man called “Myung Tae-kyun” – who was allegedly involved in the president’s alleged violation of election law – has shocked the public. But if the PD orchestrates an open-air rally against the president, it is crossing the line. One wonders why a majority party is resorting to an outdoor rally.

The DP must help uncover the truth behind abuse of power instead of inciting the public. Suspicions about the first couple’s intervention in nominations ahead of the 2022 by-election have not yet been confirmed. The DP had better prepare an effective system to uncover the truth behind the broker’s schemes.

Given the growing uncertainties of the world and our economy, the majority party must refrain from taking to the streets to achieve its political objective. After North Korean troops were sent to Russia, tension quickly escalated on the Korean Peninsula. Depending on the results of the US presidential election on November 5, South Korea may be required to develop an entirely new foreign policy strategy. The government must also address the weakened competitiveness of our chip industry. The majority opposition should not devote itself to inciting the people solely for its political gains.

The PD must first ask whether this massive outdoor gathering was intended to pressure the judiciary before issuing its first rulings in the two volatile cases involving Lee’s alleged violation of election law and subordination of perjury before the presidential election of 2022.

Unless President Yoon apologizes for the first lady’s abuse of power, promises to suspend her official activities, and colossally overhauls the presidential office, he will not be able to overcome this crisis. The prosecution must also shed light on all the suspicions surrounding the influential intermediary. Since the targets of the prosecution’s investigation must include the presidential couple, we hope that the presidential office will actively cooperate with its investigation.
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