(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on March 1)

Calm after ruling
Politicians must act responsibly in national crisis

President Park Geun-hye didn't attend Monday's final hearing of her impeachment case. In a statement read out by one of her attorneys at the Constitutional Court, Park apologized for causing great pain to the people and hampering state affairs "because of my fault."

But she denied all charges against her over the swirling corruption scandal involving her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil. "I have a belated regret that I should have been more cautious with my trust in her," the disgraced leader said. She lamented the miserable reality in which all her policies and actions had become objects of "misunderstanding and suspicion."

But even at the final hearing, Park failed to answer key questions related to her impeachment trial. For example, why did the President allow Choi, who had no official title, to control two nonprofit foundations established with money extracted from conglomerates? It also defies understanding how a businessman recommended by Choi became the country's ambassador to Myanmar.

Rep. Kwon Seong-dong of the Bareun Party, who led the National Assembly's impeachment committee, asked the top court to remove the nation's first female head of state from office. "The President's violations of the Constitution and law have been established through the corroboration of evidence that underwent strict verification," Kwon said. "We urge the Constitutional Court to strictly hold Park accountable so the public can no longer feel ashamed of the Republic of Korea."

Monday's closing hearing put an end to the 81-day courtroom battle between Park and the National Assembly. What remains is the court's ruling that will likely come before March 13, the retirement date of acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi.

The Constitutional Court should make a wise judgment only based on law and principles, and our society must use the ruling as an occasion to make a new leap forward by putting a full stop to the social unrest triggered by Park's impeachment.

The problem is that there could inevitably be an angry backlash after the ruling. There is a saying these days that a "civil war" could occur if the impeachment is accepted, whereas there would be a "revolution" if the opposite is the case.

The basis of democracy is the rule of law. There can be pros and cons on any issue under the constitutional freedom of expression. But it directly challenges our constitutionalism if anyone dares not accept the Constitutional Court's decision, even though it is different from what he or she wants.

This is why politicians should show a strong sense of responsibility in times of national crisis so the nation can regain calm quickly after the landmark ruling. In the run-up to the looming presidential election, presidential hopefuls must hammer out an agreement to unconditionally respect whatever the Constitutional Court decides.
(END)