to a maverick school headmaster in post conflict, go fast, determined to change the fortunes of an industry to communicate plagues by urban to cape poverty of the legacy of secretary and aggression. arms and students with the knowledge of the ancient greek philosopher participate on your best, participate in everybody else's best. young play to a witness documentary on the jersey. you know, depending political crisis in south korea to president's and peach within 2 weeks with the stand and replacement immediately under pressure, the instabilities create and 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 isn't the political turmoil one of the

world's newest. but most robust democracy is roxanne ways not seen since nutri dictatorship ended in the 1980s. 2 presidents ousted in december with an acting replacement on 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 one of the world's biggest economy is in tech, produces a sent invest, is playing 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 the key us allies significantly weakened, an area of vital importance. we'll discuss all of this with all the guests and just a moment. but 1st, this report from victoria k can be the south. korea's

constitutional crisis has deepened opposition. policies in the national assembly voted to impeach acting president handbook suit. he replaced president hughes. so you'll just 2 weeks ago, after you was impeached for imposing martial or the start of december, the full parliament overturned 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 distribution if the presidency has refused to a point 3 more judges to the court unless this course party agreement. so the may no position, democratic party that controls the chain, but suspended him to the relief of support is the 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, you must step down and be arrested immediately so we can all sure we know you administration, but those who support unit 10 say

a 2nd and peach mentioned as many weeks plunges the country into motels. this demonstrates the democratic party to 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 we're placed 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 fulls largest economy on friday. it's currency plunged 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. hun says he will say,

wait for 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 for 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. i turned fellow in public policy at the harvard kennedy school and also. busy from so in bottom trone, is there a todd, south korean army, lieutenant general, thank you will, if you for joining us. if i can start with you, general john. so it period of marshal went from the, the some of the, 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 76 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 uh, 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, uh 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 seemed 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 the, at the present level, st installed young chick 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 to well, according to his lawyer, so state, months and years 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 for 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 that 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 bit of an i'm certain factor is he 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 a certainty there, the 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 chest on who is the acting president. now if he does not appoint the 3 cause to dish 3 additional constitutional judges that they are going to impeachment 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 will not be wise for the biggest issue is the economy and the social um, stability are there must be a political solution to this compromising talking. and that's where we are 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 appears through the interior is a one uh the national assembly passed the bill to the page, the press done. now the ball using the 4th in the hands of the judge is 6 to is in the class, then 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, 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 piece, not the prisoner will be satisfied. so the timeline is not that dire,

but the better scenario would be having full bench with the whole 9. you know, just in the close the court and 9 judges will render the going the case. so being peace, know the president, us on. yeah. um. so things are moving for the despite all this. uh uh, you know, fridays uh, struggles, delaying tactic is present, use like trying to bind time. but the offers on potty is a so strongly a bank by public opinion. uh at least the 75 percent off the sides 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 day of the decision that acting present 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, almo, 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 is 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 in prestige? oh, i don't necessarily think selling your right 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 reading 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 ballot is an opportunity, a moment of quote unquote, crisis. so 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 you'll 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 warning that that will be terrorist 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 the, of korean economy. and of course, as you mentioned, we have a new administration of 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 indoor and 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 his 2nd term. but it is very quite spell 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 top in there. so there was no press done in it. in the presence of the officers, but she was suspended and the political present so alternately was replaced and exercised but acting president upon google one. so this in that so, so for in territory for south bend government or uh, it's a citizen is dealing with the very top line us. so the just ration with donald trump as a president of these are the 2nd time. but at the same time, we know what title foreign policy and the faith pressure would be coming from

washington with the, you know, variation not on trauma and even with 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 for me on side. so we know what we were going to get. we did on that from coming back to the white house. and the geo political significance of good can not be dis, gall dude, because a major target of trump diplomacy remains the same, is 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 so politico turmoils and weaknesses in the south spring government, a t on,

i mean, do we still have co, sorry, sorry, general tune, go ahead. yeah, if i may just add to that. although very few south korea is there, save this in public. i must to remind everyone that there is still still a significant number of south koreans 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 ne asia, is as in frank with you, priceless. so i just want to add that to young on that subject. of course, those trips of 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 scene. 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 pointed out by the end of his to how confused you think they'll be in joe 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 martial law. 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 and ministration on the 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 cost issue 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. 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 problem to 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 present use on your own . because under his leadership of the by bilateral partnership between surrender,

go, uh, has been improving drastically. the improvement was a really the big and strong on the front of the try. later i was a good population among us. so spend just and to deal with the growing scripts from those career onto with me. so i'll send a new palms. uh, so uh, seeing use on your going down would be really shocking to japan, but that also shows the st. mary's financial aspect. so the a security cooperation between new sold in tokyo, in essence, so to japan's approach to south korea, especially for the cultivation as to create partnership despite you. so at the end of the year, 2, uh this is will be more transactional. okay, then how 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. and the,

the dump a little using your maybe of the, for the next to the ministration on the sides. clear because china will definite, they tried to make full advantage of the uh, potential house though the um, you know, the use on your mobile as being really, uh, anti trying. he is 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 of the political situation may open a door for south korea to cultivate new venue in the realm of, for a relation especially. so approach 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 will with no, it's 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 involve 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, you 0 adult, calm 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, a tens of thousands of chinese asylum seekers are risking their lives in a dangerous route to the us. we're in america. so what happens once they make it impart to have a special investigation? $1.00 oh, $1.00 east of chinese, my friends, the american dream is, was there risk and the sacrifice on out to 0? the

limits to have a dream contained to study in your own adventure. now, counter and ways the, until mccrae and how these are the top stories on al jazeera, the number of people killed in a plane crash in south korea, has risen to 177, which is u. s. line who is trying to land at mon international airport in the southwest when it's get it off the runway and crashed is being described as one of the countries list it as honest as, according to the fine agency, 2 people had been pulled alive from the wreckage the families of those on board had been gathering at the airport waiting for any news. the head of the line has apologized and promised to work with authorities in 5th.