FT: Signs of Interim Government Collapse
WP: New Variable Unfavorable to Lee Jaemyung
NYT: Political Qualifications Debate Rekindled
AFP: Chaos Deepens
With just one month remaining until the presidential election, the resignation of the acting president followed by the departure of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs has created a real leadership vacuum in the executive branch. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ruled that a new trial will begin for leading presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung. Major international media outlets have focused on the turmoil in South Korea's political landscape, using strong terms such as "political crisis."
WP reported that the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the case of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act with a guilty verdict. Photo by WP website capture
The New York Times (NYT) reported on May 1 (local time), "The Supreme Court's ruling has given Lee Jaemyung's political rivals grounds to once again question his qualifications," and assessed that "a shadow has been cast over his presidential bid." NYT also noted that this ruling could become a turning point that triggers psychological estrangement among centrist voters.
The Washington Post (WP) wrote, "South Korea's presidential race has been completely upended just five weeks before election day," adding, "The Supreme Court has ordered the leading candidate, Lee, to stand trial again, and the acting president has resigned." WP predicted that this decision could affect voters who have already expressed 'political fatigue.'
Former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who declared his candidacy for the presidential election, is paying respects at the Memorial Tower in the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Han Ducksoo Campaign Office
The wave of resignations in the political sphere also drew significant attention from foreign media. Bloomberg reported, "With the resignation of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, South Korea's political turmoil has entered yet another phase." Bloomberg particularly highlighted the fact that the successor to the acting president resigned less than a day after taking office, pointing out, "This carousel of leadership changes could be a weakness for South Korea in diplomacy and trade."
The Financial Times (FT) also commented, "South Korea is Asia's fourth-largest economy, but is now experiencing deepening political uncertainty due to a leadership vacuum." FT pointed out that, despite the upcoming early presidential election, the stability of state governance is not guaranteed.
Sangs Mok Choi, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance, is leaving the plenary hall after the voting procedure at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Yonhap News
Reuters reported, "The successive resignations of the acting president and the deputy prime minister are shaking the interim government system that was formed after the declaration of martial law last year," expressing concern that the core of state governance is now left vacant.
Han Ducksoo, who resigned as acting president on this day, immediately declared his candidacy for the presidency, while former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sangmok resigned, citing the opposition's push for impeachment. Presidential authority has now been transferred to Lee Jooho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, resulting in the unprecedented situation of a 'triple acting president system.'
AFP diagnosed the situation by stating, "Legal uncertainty erupting just before the presidential election, combined with the successive resignations of key executive officials, is shaking the entire political system."
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