Unwelcoming Impact from South Korea

Newspapers in Japan reported impeachment on South Korean President, Park Geun-hye, for the top news on the front page Saturday morning. Power of Park as the President was immediately suspended and Prime Minister, Hwang Kyo-ahn, began to act for Park. Sudden replacement of South Korean top leader will affect the politics in Japan that is deeply connected with diplomatic schedule.

Prosecutors’ office in Seoul indicted Park’s close friend, Choi Soon-sil, and the secretaries in Blue House as having forced major conglomerates donation. The lawmakers with opposite parties in South Korean Parliament submitted a move for impeachment of Park last Saturday. In the voting on Friday, the move accepted 234 of approval out of all 300. The result indicated not only the opposite parties but the leading, Saenuri Party, largely supported the impeachment of Park.

Constitutional Court will decide whether it will impeach Park within 180 days. If the court decides the impeachment, Park will be discharged and Presidential election will be held within 60 days. “I sincerely apologize the people on this major confusion,” apologized Park right after the impeachment move was approved. But, she refused immediate resignation and announced her intention to stand up for court procedure. Although Park revealed her willingness of stepping down in next April, the timing of her resignation became unclear with the passage of the move for impeachment.

Japanese media did not welcome political confusion in South Korea. Mainichi Shimbun required Park immediate resignation in its editorial on Saturday. “President needs to realize her responsibility for international society. South Korean economy is ranked at the eleventh in the world and its presence has significant meaning on stability of Northeast Asia. Confusion in South Korean politics is nothing but a negative element for regional stability,” wrote Mainichi.

Although Hwang filled in the position of President, Japanese government thinks trilateral summit meeting including China in Tokyo later this month is suspended. Japan expected China to be the host nation next year after having the meeting this year to make it a natural opportunity for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to visit China. But, if it is suspended, Japan will have to remain to be the host next year.

Having indicated direct deal with China, incoming administration of United States led by Donald Trump will not be as reliable for Japan in concerted approach against advance of China. Confusion in South Korea is another concern for Japanese diplomacy to deal with threat from Northern part of Korean Peninsula or eastern part of Asian continent. Not having positive perspective in bilateral summit meeting with Russia next week, Abe administration looks like losing grip on diplomacy toward East Asia.