architecture comes in a reno in assembly, where you can place all this evidence together and start seeing things architect, vitamin, and photographer trevor pac man, pod one. another thing that i really want out of art, which is not simply things that are trying to see the world, but things that give you a glimpse of how the world could be. different studios be unscripted analogies, era deepening political crisis in south korea, to presidents and peach within 2 weeks with the stand in replacement, immediately under pressure, the instabilities create some serious concern internationally. so what's gone wrong and what's next? this is inside story, the hello again on james bay's south korea,

as in the political to him while one of the world's newest. but most robust democracies rocked in ways not seen since military dictatorship ended in the 1980s . 2 presidents ousted in december with the acting replacement and the pressure of the appointment of judges who decide the fate of the other 2. yes, it's a complicated story, but with straightforward implications, trouble in a key ally couldn't come to worst time for the west. this tension saw with neighboring north korea, china and russia. chaos. and when the world's biggest economy is in tech, producers has sent investors fling and the currency tumbling. just as donald trump looks around the corner threatening terrace. so is this just the domestic political route that will eventually blow over or is a t u s l i significantly weakened in an area of vital importance. we'll discuss all of this with our guest in just a moment. but 1st, this report from victoria can be the south. korea's

constitutional crisis has deepened opposition. policies and the national assembly voted to impeach acting president handbook suit. he replaced president you so you'll just 2 weeks ago after you was in peach for imposing marshall or the start of december, the full parliament over turned it within a day at least 6 judges on the constitutional cool most of hold unions impeachment to remove him from office, it currently only has 6, which means they need to deliver a unanimous ruling district view, and if the presidency has refused to point 3 more judges to the quote, unless this course party agreement. so the main o position, democratic party that controls the chamber, has suspended him to the relief of support is no good because we don't know when there will be a 2nd martial declaration. and we just want this instability to and how did the rebellion hewn must step down and be arrested immediately. so we can all sure we knew administration,

but those who support unit 10 say 2nd impeachment and as many weeks plunges the country into more tales. this demonstrates the democratic parties, legislative tyranny. i oppose this legal impeachment. it's the opposition's way of saying stop working and just comply with our demands. it's on just finance minister choice and more because replaced hand is acting president. he says, political uncertainty is threatening south korea's national security. the immediate attention to this is not what we have been worried about has become a reality. it's an unprecedented emergency situation and the constitutions, history. i urge you to maintain a defensive posture against north korean publications and propaganda. the south korea is ages falls largest economy on friday, its currency plunge to levels not seen since the 2007 global financial crisis. the constitutional quote has up to 6 months to decide whether to reinstate or remove

you. pun, says he will say, wait for a ruling from the quotes with politics becoming more polarized, south korea's democracy is being put to the test. and it's likely to face many more months of instability. victoria gave some b, l, g 0 of the inside story. well let's bring in all experts to discuss all this today. and with joining today, by young chick bong research fellow at the own state university institute of north korean studies in sol from boston. g rebound is urgent and follow in public policy at the harvard kennedy school, and also from sol in bottom. trone, is there a todd, south korean ami, the tenants, general. thank you. all of you for joining us. if i can start with you general john . so it period of marshal went from the the some of the 3rd, some of the full for just 6 hours. yes,

it seems the crisis is fall from of it. yes. so the military involvement portion ended within 6 hours. unfortunately the political after mass still continues and i think your reports put in a pretty good summary of where. ready we are right now. the next question is when the actual impeachment process involving president unit will start and how the composition of the constitutional courts will be formed. whether we will have 3 new judges or not. so those are the main issues, the citizen i'm very disappointed that this whole political situation that we have is not being resolved politically. general chung, just staying with that period of martial law before we move on. yes,

it was only 6 as but as a full, not military man and a very senior military man. what did you make of those scenes? it was very startling to me because the reason that korea has a system that which involves martial law is because of the serious threats that we have from north korea. if there is a north korean involved contingency, we must maintain law in order in a very chaotic situation. that is why we have a system called martial law which ensures uh, or limits constitutional human rights. thereby maintaining law in order which will support mobilization, which in turn will support the operational plan to defend korea. in this case, none of that seem to be present for the calling of martial law. and yet it happened

. so it was quite startling that on the other hand, the soldiers were ordered to conduct these these actions knew that something was not right. and they hesitated, which gave time for the constitutional process to conclude and dismiss the martial law. and that at the, at the present level saying installed young check. um this was at the beginning of the month some weeks of now paused. do we now have any indication what the real motives were of president you? why did he do this? what was he thinking? is it any clear now? a well, according to his lawyer. so state must present you as on the other phone, he had a very mild, as best speak pauper's behind his decision to be cleared to marshall for the 1st time since 1979. so it has been 45 years since clear answer to this actually

experience, but being called the martian of law. according to his lawyers explanation, he only wanted to give us the warning to the office on part is that impeached? try to impose the, the cabinet members off or wrong raises for more than $22.00 times. and he wanted to verify the allegation of the election on the fraud or the last to national assembly the election in the month of april. but the explanation rendered by his lawyers in himself do not relisted well with the missouri of the career citizens. because this is so overblown to justify declaration of martial law. for the 1st time in 45 years to deal with these political matters,

other managers would have been more than enough compared to the damages that made by the declaration of martial law. well, let's look at what could happen next and the possible scenarios i possible scenarios because it's not really very clear cut. what happens next, g young. let's start with president. you and i mean, he's being impeached, but potentially he could come back, couldn't team, do you think there's any chance of him coming back and having any real power? because even in the unlikely scenario that he won in the constitutional court, he would have no political power till what a so i think it's a story that can go a couple of directions at a minimum. one is sort of the impeachment process as you just post, which is, you know, the, we'll have to see if the next sort of appointments of the 3 vacant justices do in

fact pass. and there's a consensus, which is also the reason that the, i'm a former acting president hines said was the reason why he did not approve. but um, so that could, i think, is more likely the scenario. but on the other hand, president new has a sort of an all star team put together on his legal defense and moving forward. and that's a better than a certain factor. is he, it is a, you know, by training a career, prosecutors knows the constitution and kind of legal has legal expertise to bring in some of the arguments potential arguments in the procedures. so i think it's one that sort of, you know, buying time um, you know, um doing everything possible to build a case that this, there was an actual wrench in his mind. but on the other hand, there's also the criminal investigations that are sort of ongoing in,

in different paths. so we can talk about that too as well. so better than that, a certainty there to general children. i mean, we've now had 2 presidents of president, maxine president, who opinion page we now have the finance ministers, the acting president choice sung milk. is there a possibility that if he doesn't come up with these extra charges with the constitutional cold, he could be impeached to where does this leave us? do they go on and on down a political packing order? yes, that's exactly what the opposition is stating. they're saying that if the vice prime minister should song a church has on more was the acting president. now, if he does not appoint the $3.00 cost edition 3 additional constitutional judges that they are going to engagements, impeach him as well. but this is an easier said than done is this like the 30th

impeachment attempt that the opposition is attempting and it's even the people in the middle will be thinking i'm, i mean enough is enough. so it won't be easy for them politically to do that. and it would not be wise, but the biggest issue is the economy and the social um, stability. uh there must be a political solution to this compromising talking. and that's where we with what, that's what we don't see right now. a young check. you have a system, it seems with lots of checks and balances. the problem is that those checks and balances right now seemed to be leading to deadlock and paralysis. just explained to was simply how do you get to fresh elections in the korean system? well, the situation may not be as bad as described by a manual observers. the checks and balances that is better through working all the

the system up here is through the interior is a one uh the national assembly passed the bill to the piece. the press done now the ball using the 4th in the hands of the judge is 6 to is in the cluster. and of course, so this is a peaceful and a legal process. so according to the constitutional process, and now we have 6 judges out of $9.12, then bar, scheduled to retire in the month of april. so as long as the 6 judges will produce the a, the, the weather present, use only a will be peace or reinstated before the retirement of the, to a judge is the, the requirement of the 2 thirds majority in the cost of the court to make the decision on the page, not the prisoner will be satisfied. so timeline is not that dire,

but the better scenario would be having full bench with the whole 9, you know, judges in the close. the court and 9 judges will render the, the going, the case of being peace, know the president, us on. yeah. um, so things are moving for the despite all this, uh uh, you know, how does the struggles delaying tactic is present use like trying to bind time, but they all present potty is a so strongly a bank by public opinion. uh, at least the 75 percent of the size can probably he's in favor of the impeach. seeing the see the result calculate the result, the about the piece some of the further in use on your and supreme court. and the question, the court actually made the author and to the decision that acting plasm to exercise the right on behalf of the piece to prison, to a point for the remaining 3 judges. so when you combine the opinions render by the

spring board thing, plus the court and the public opinion, and then the chest, alma or any other acting present, will be eventually making the decision g on it. i ask you now about what, how this is viewed. i mean, you will not currently in career, you'll there in the us. how is this view by the rest of the world? because south korea was seen by everyone has this great success story. it has such industry and manufacturing. it also has vibrant post popular culture. everyone around the world knows tape pop. do you think this is a real blow up to the countries reputation and prestige? oh, i don't necessarily think selling your rights to say that it did catch the world by surprise in part because korea's sense it's democratization has been, you know, moving forward very strongly towards it. rule of law and you know, inclusive participation. we had

a record historic voter turnout in the last journal elections in april, but i think certainly not speaking for everyone in the side of the ocean, but i do think there is a point to be made about uh you know it what, what perhaps specialists do not see or for koreans living there, there is a sort of a very much a historic context, right, of course. and that is not always reported, or perhaps as well known. so things that my fellow panelists of already you mentioned about the sort as, you know, the, the, the institutions entrenched and it's sort of, you know, geo political setting. aftermath of the reason why the cold war and so on the parties. because the democratic institutions where they are, you know, they develop over time several decades up to the present point. so yes,

there checks and balances, but perhaps this latest the bad is an opportunity, a moment of quote unquote, crisis to perhaps, you know, discuss and build consensus on how do we avoid this happening in the future to the extent that it is structural and speaks to perhaps an institutional reforms, which is a new discussion by any stretch of imagination. genuine tongue country is the 4th largest economy in asia. how worried should we be about the economic full out the currency? the one has gone to its lowest level against the dollar since 2009. and of course there's something else on the horizon which is the return of president trump, and he is a warnings that will be paris imposed. yeah, so i guess decide the whole process of impeachment or not, no impeachment,

or whatever the political turmoil is going to be is about the economy and how this whole political situation is affecting the economy. right now as you point out, the one raid is in trouble, which is affecting trade, which is affecting investment all sectors of uh, of korean economy. and of course, as you mentioned, we have a new administration in the united states. uh which is which is again going to challenge for. ready yeah, but that's why we need to resolve this issue as soon as possible, but it looks like for the next, at least 3 to 6 months, we're going to live in this kind of state. and that i feel that the career and people are strong enough to be able to overcome this will have a hard time, but i, i believe will be able to endure. and the united states,

the trump administration, despite the tariffs and whatever economic developments might occur in the end, i think that the, the, the south korea will be able to work out a mutual deal where both countries will benefit you only trick. it's not just the terrace of courses that we have to go back to last time when president trump was in the white house. at one point, he was threatening to charge south korea $10000000000.00 us dollars a year to keep us troops in the country. there are about $28000.00 us troops there . and how worried should the authorities be and so about not having a permanent leader at this time, which one would think is a pretty vital time for diplomacy and outreach? you know, there's no question. this is

a very pop idol time for south bend of diplomacy in conjunction with the return of donald trump for the 2nd term. but it is very points that to that when president trump was the 1st time you looked at it 2017, we also went through very difficult time with a case of impeachment of prison pop in there. so there was no press done in it in the presence of the officers, but uh she was suspended and the political prisoner. so somebody was replaced and exercise by acting president upon giving one. so this in that so, so for in territory, for south been government or uh, it's a citizen, is dealing with the very top line us. so the ministration with donald trump as a president are, these are the 2nd time. but at the same time, we know what title foreign policy and the fed pressure would be coming from

washington. we do, you know where it's not on trial, even we the dates of political chaos created by the declaration of martial law. so there is an early month of preparation and readiness on the south 20 on side. so we know what we were going to get. we did on that drum coming back to the white house and the geo political significance of good can not be discount dude. because a major target of trunk diplomacy remains the same, it's china. so in the context of the trump bought the ministration, tried to pressure and contain china, then south korea will remain as a very viable and importer on the end, the month to trump the mysterious on of the united states. despite all these politico turmoils and weaknesses in the south spring government, the young, i mean, do we still have co, sorry, sorry, general john,

go ahead. yeah. if i may just add to that. although very few south korea is there, save us in public. i must to remind everyone that there is still still a significant number of south korea who are more than willing to share more for the cost of american soldiers on the korean peninsula because we feel. ready that the benefits that come from this military alliance, which creates the ability for korea and northeast asia, is as in frank with you, priceless. so i just want to add that to young on that subject. of course, those trips all that because of the threat from north korea. how do you think the developments in south korea are going to be seen in pyongyang? and of course they've got the return of donald trump and that was a real c. so and what happened last time he was president of the un general

assembly at the beginning of his time. he said there was a possibility for him to possibly totally destroy north korea. and then he went through those series of to summit. so no visit actually briefly into north korea and then diplomacy that completely picked it out by the end of his to how confused do you think they'll be in killing young about the developments of the moment. oh, i'm not sure i would use care to rise um north korea's position visa, visa peninsula and its neighboring countries as being confused. i think they're watching. uh they certainly can go and has come out and condemn the president news marshall out. but i think you have to sort of step back and look at history again and, you know, i think his time has also it a different moment. right? then we were say in, even in the eighty's. so, so, you know,

all the things that we've been discussing about yeah, bi lateral trilateral alliance and all these things that i think under use administration a form policy has very much been like engage with the world right economically, security wise. so on and so on. democratic, a lot of these things are, i think, what could potentially, let's say there is a snap election after the ruling is um, uh, handed down from this constitutional court that we could be, you know, depending on who's in power either with e j. man. if he is, in fact the we are um, or a conservative or even a president new and right under the conservative party. these, you know, sort of the status quo policies that keep south korea engage with the world. could potentially be glass or completely go the other direction. so i think that's the kind of thing that we know could happen based again on historical positions and so

on, but either part parties. but i think the real question and the potential threat in a more comprehensive use of the word is, you know, again, south korea's engagement was the world. and, and you said at the outset it's, you know, international significance. as a young chick advised me to be nice to other young chick, i knew i need to move this on if you don't mind, because we're not mentioned to all the t significant players in this region. japan on china, the problem, the present unit relations with japan, i think goes a little bit back. so how do you think they will be viewing the developments that we've seen recently? well, japan must be really disappointed to see the thoughtful of prison use on your own because under his leadership the by bi lateral partnership, bitch and so and okay,

all has been improving drastically. the improvement was a really the big and strong on the front of the tri letters. it could corp among us, so spin just and to deal with the growing scripts from those clear on the with the souls and then you'd see a palms. so seeing, you know, something you know, going down would be really shocking to japan, but that also shows the st. mary's phrase out aspect. so the a security cooperation between the sold in tokyo, in a sense. so to japan's approach to south korea, especially for the cultivation as a great partnership, despite she started to end up here to uh, this is, will be more transactional. okay. then i can i push and can i push one now to very quickly to china and we can do a whole program on this, but very quickly on china,

please. sure. the end of the dump a little using your maybe a boot on the for the next. so the ministration on south korea because china will definite they tried to make full advantage of the uh, potential house though the um you know, uh, use them. yeah. oh, good as being really uh, anti trying yeah. as in the overall point in purchasing a orientation. so what i'm saying is that the despite is a political to provide and difficult economic difficulties. the political situation may open a door for south korea to cultivate new venue. in the realm of for a relation especially suppose to china. so there are some positive aspects to be gained for. busy such a difficult time in software, general true, and if i can end with you, that there are all sorts of problems in the region your country. technically,

it's anonymous. this still a lot with the north. great how, why read all you about this political situation briefly? i think north korea is smart enough to know that any kind of from vacation at this time would only unite the korean people as well as strengthen the rock and u. s. alliance as well as the japanese relationship. so right now, they're being very shrewd. they're taking their time, they're using this as a, as a propaganda issue. and for the time being, uh, i think they'll be at that stage. another point is the, the majority of the military is quite focused on defending the nation. so i'm not that worried at all. okay, well thank you very much. uh, to our guests today. you'll check bong g young rebound and invo control. if you came in midway through the show, don't worry. you can always see this program again. any time you want it out is there at all, call me your thoughts and suggestions. so welcome to is that what go to our

facebook page at facebook dot com forward slash ha inside story. or you can find this on ex, look for a inside story. i'll be back in this chair very soon until then for me, james faced the team here in doha. stay safe, bye bye for now the we know what's happening in our region. we know has to get some places that others tend on fear guy on purpose. as far as the way that you tell the story is what can make a difference the

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programs. there's more than 2000000 people in guns without food and water as family struggle to stay with.