Riding the Political Divide in South Korea

Following weeks of growing popular protests calling for her resignation, and in the face of an impending parliamentary vote on initiating impeachment procedures, South Korean President Park Geun Hye has offered to step down on a timetable agreed upon by the parliament. In her speech on Tuesday, Park agreed to follow parliament’s guidance to ensure political stability. Her offer of resignation engendered immediate calls of foul from the opposition, who claim her offer was disingenuous and her motive was to seek to undermine the impeachment effort. The ruling Saenuri Party welcomed her offer, asking the opposition to hold off on a call for impeachment. Far from easing the political turbulence, Park's offer may have increased it....