Korean graduate students organized a rally on the University of Iowa campus Wednesday to show solidarity with protestors in South Korea, where hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets over the past six weeks to call for the ouster of President Park Geun-hye. The Korean National Assembly is expected to vote Friday, Dec. 9 on whether to impeach Park, who has admitted wrongdoing but refused to step down at this time.
Speakers at the rally shared a letter from Korean students, faculty and staff at the university and Korean residents of Iowa City, in support of a vote to impeach Park. The letter alleged that Park violated the constitution by sharing classified documents with a close friend, Choi Soon-sil. Park has apologized for the scandal and has admitted to consulting Choi for advice and for help editing her speeches.
The letter also referenced allegations that Park abused her power by pressuring businesses to donate millions of dollars to foundations with ties to Choi and that Choi intervened in state affairs.
Park’s term ends in December 2017. Protests have grown to record-breaking size, with recent protests drawing in an estimated 1.7 million people, and Park’s approval rating is the lowest of any sitting president, around four percent according to multiple news sources.
One of the Iowa City rally’s organizers, Kim Yooneui from Seoul, said that people who support this cause can protest, share their support on social media and sign petitions in favor of an impeachment vote in the Korean National Assembly. The group has collected over 100 signatures so far in support of impeachment, and will send them to both local and South Korean media.
“Korean democracy is in crisis right now. That is because of the president, Park. She was elected four years ago and she did many unlawful things, but she’s the president so she has the right to be out of the law,” she said.
While Park is in office, she cannot be prosecuted for the crimes she is accused of. Kim said that if Park is impeached, she hopes a new president will bring justice in the form of equal treatment under law to help restore democracy.
The motion to impeach must pass the National Assembly by a two-thirds majority, and then be approved by the Constitutional Court. For the vote to pass in the National Assembly, it will require significant support from the conservative party of which Park is a member. If Park is impeached, an election would need to be held within 60 days to replace her. Park has said that she will end her term early if it is the will of the National Assembly, but that could be a lengthy process.
Another organizer of Wednesday’s rally, Chun Hyunsik, said “it’s kind of negotiation between the Blue House [the presidential residence] and the leading party, leading conservative party.”
Chun said that many people including himself don’t believe that this process will yield a favorable result and want Park to step down immediately.
