ISAS Briefs

South Korea’s President was forced to leave office by the constitutional court’s upholding of Parliament’s decision to impeach her over corruption charges involving her friend and big businesses. The constitutional court has ruled that protecting the laws of democracy and market economy is the call of a democratically elected leader. Furthermore, the successful unravelling of the political scandal marks a breakthrough in civil society activism in South Korea in exposing corrupt politicians and entrepreneurs who are seen to break the law. However, a possible political vacuum may mean that South Korea will face difficulties in dealing with the security and the politico-economic relations with its neighbouring countries like China, Russia, and Japan for a while at least.