[Viewpoint] The First Step to Ending the Civil War

Political Civil War Deepens
Leaders Must Declare: "We Will Accept the Constitutional Court's Verdict"

Politics in the Republic of Korea is already in a state of civil war. Since the Yoon Seok-yeol administration took office, the opposition party has launched impeachment attacks 29 times, and President Yoon attempted to suppress his political opponents at once by declaring martial law. President Yoon's declaration of martial law has been put on trial to determine whether it violated the constitution. Separately, criminal trials are pending for those involved in the martial law declaration.

The public is divided between those who support and those who oppose the martial law. Among those who support martial law, there is a further split between those who back the opposition party's rampage and those who fiercely criticize it. Those who argue that martial law is a legitimate reason for the president's impeachment and those who believe impeachment is excessive hold daily rallies to raise their voices. Some supporters even caused disturbances at the Seoul Western District Court.

The political civil war intensified after President Yoon was released on the 8th, 52 days after his detention. The ruling party pressured the Constitutional Court, saying, "The Constitutional Court should refer to this decision and consider resuming the arguments" (Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader), and "The Constitutional Court and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) should be abolished" (Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu). The opposition party pushed the prosecution, saying, "(The prosecution) naturally should have filed an appeal, but it is unbelievable that they gave up" (Lee Jae-myung, party leader), and "If Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung refuses to resign immediately, we will take all measures including impeachment" (Park Chan-dae, floor leader).

The public advocating for impeachment (pro-impeachment) and those opposing it (anti-impeachment) clashed fiercely on the streets. Those demanding impeachment argued, "If the impeachment is dismissed, a second martial law incident will occur." Those opposing impeachment countered, "Since President Yoon has been released, impeachment has lost its persuasiveness."

The political civil war is expected to reach its peak around the time of the impeachment trial verdict for President Yoon. As things stand, it is virtually impossible for either side to accept the impeachment trial result. Rather, depending on the verdict, whether an early presidential election is held or President Yoon returns to office, social conflicts will undoubtedly deepen in any case.

Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said, "The most worrisome thing is that supporters of both sides gather to protest and engage in extreme clashes," adding, "There is a risk of escalating into a civil war among the people." If the civil war does not end at the political level and leads to actual violent incidents, the Republic of Korea will fall into an irreversible vortex.

The situation in the Republic of Korea is not such that we can afford to divide ourselves into factions and fight. The economy is on a path of long-term stagnation, and the international order has been rapidly changing since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. A war without gunfire is taking place between nations. In the midst of this, political confrontations like a civil war are a shortcut to national ruin.

To prevent escalation, what the president and leaders of both ruling and opposition parties must do is declare that they will "accept the Constitutional Court's verdict." This will help resolve the current crisis early and serve as a force to mature our politics and society. Of course, this is a matter tied to their political survival. Therefore, such a decision can leave a great impression on the public. A leader who rescues the people from civil war will surely receive a fitting evaluation.