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This is huge. Early analysis is that this is a net positive for Korean democracy since the entire process, from protests to ouster was relatively peaceful and t
by bane 10y ago
This is huge. Early analysis is that this is a net positive for Korean democracy since the entire process, from protests to ouster was relatively peaceful and the people involved in the ouster tried to follow the rule of law as much as possible. It's exercised for the first time a part of the legal system that's never been explored in the country.
At each stage of the very complex process, the government figured out what to do without too much fuss, even operating as a temporary parliamentary democracy.
It wasn't too long ago that this could have gone very differently: seizure of power, military occupation, coups, violence and corruption.
This is Korea's Nixon moment.
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There's some very serious discussion regarding criminal charges they may now be brought now that she's freed from Presidential immunity.
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For folks who want more background on what this is all about, "Ask a Korean" has done a magnificent job of writing the charges up.
http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-ultimate-choi-soon-sil-gate.html http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-ultimate-choi-soo...
http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-ultimate-choi-soon-sil-gate.html http://askakorean.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-ultimate-choi-soo...
- nether 10y agoMy cousin is a historian of Korea, and well, Korean herself. She says this president is like Korea's GWB. Shamelessly very right wing, a lot of gaffes related to speech and behavior. There are going to be a lot of happy people tonight.
- simpx 10y agosorry, but what's GWB stands for?
- adrianmonk 10y agoGeorge W. Bush
- Kieslowski 10y ago
- bmelton 10y agoGeorge W. Bush
- lordvon 10y agoGeorge W. Beetlejuice
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- magic_beans 10y agowhat does, not what's (what is).
- lifthrasiir 10y ago> She says this president is like Korea's GWB. If she were like GWB we wouldn't have gone this far. She is more like Nixon, but worse.
- sandworm101 10y agoNixon is "the worst" because he was the one forced from office. But he wasn't actually removed through legal process. They started the process, but he left on his own before it came to anything. Clinton was actually impeached, but did not leave. I dont think the US has ever removed a president legally. They have quit, which isn't the same thing. Korea is ahead in that regard. Im not sure how/if the american system might handle a legal forced removal. In nixon's defense: read his wikipedia article. He wasnt a monster. Many good things came from his presidency.
- swyman 10y agoExcept that time he intentionally sabotaged the 1968 peace talks to end the Vietnam War because he thought it might help him win an election. For reference, the war continued until late 1975. He is directly responsible for each and every casualty and atrocity committed in those 7 years, as well as the thousands upon thousands of irreparably mentally and emotionally damaged veterans that survived. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/us/politics/nixon-tried-to-spoil-johnsons-vietnam-peace-talks-in-68-notes-show.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/02/us/politics/nixon-tried-t...
- sandworm101 10y ago7 years. Iraq and/or afganistan were/are far longer. Every US president has their war. More often than not those wars have ties to domestic politics. That a president uses a war for political gain is expected. It is for the people to hold that in check... which they did with nixon. If not for vietnam he probably would have stayed in office. He spent all his political capital and, when the inevitable scandle hit, he had to go. Other presidents stayed on after far worse.
- deleted 10y ago
- ComputerGuru 10y agoNot really huge, very expected for anyone that's been keeping tabs on the situation there.
- devty 10y agoWhat is surprisingly here is that the reality conformed to reasonable expectations. For a country that has witness too many violations of the democratic process, this is huge.
- Flammy 10y agoSome good discussion and perspectives on Reddit's main thread on the news, as well: https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/5yjign/president_of_south_korea_impeached/ https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/5yjign/president...