Park Geun-hye’s Impeachment: What’s Next?

The reason for impeachment is not only that citizens are tired of the US occupation, but also the corruption which has been exposed in the highest echelons of power. The notorious scandal involving the "witch" Choi Sung Sil was just one cause that brought a great number of people out onto the streets.

Meanwhile, the relationship between Park Geun-hye and the parliament, where the majority of seats are occupied by opposition forces to the president, began to sour after the decision to host the US missile defense system. Then, for the first time, the question of impeachment was raised. But earlier, despite mass protests of South Korean citizens, the soil for impeachment was not quite prepared.

If the National Assembly approves the impeachment, then Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will head the government for the next six months until the Constitutional Court decides on the president’s resignation.  After the court decision, special elections will be scheduled in the country and Hwang Kyo-ahn will have little chance to win them. On the other hand, there is the small chance that the court will not support the impeachment, as has already happened once in the history of the country.