South Korea interim leader to keep impeached Park’s policies

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL

South Korea’s acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, is resisting calls to postpone controversial policies pushed by the country’s impeached leader Park Geun-hye -- according to Hwang’s office Sunday.

The government has come under heavy criticism in opposition circles for its plan to deploy THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), despite objections raised by China, Russia, North Korea and some South Korean citizens who claim the American anti-missile system poses health and environment threats.

But a member of Hwang's office told Yonhap News Agency that “key policies will remain unchanged.”

Park’s lawyers are fighting to prove her innocence as Seoul’s Constitutional Court will have the final say on whether to oust her over charges of power abuse and allowing a private confidante to influence state affairs.

Even if the court does reach the same conclusion as this month’s parliamentary impeachment vote, it could be June before that happens -- which would in turn trigger a period of up to 60 days for a snap election.

Hwang’s brief reign could therefore be eventful as the incoming THAAD battery is set to be deployed by May.

The main opposition Democratic Party demanded last week that the schedule be reviewed, while the liberal bloc has also taken objection to Seoul’s recent deal to share military intelligence with Japan -- along with a previous agreement that has failed to satisfy the demands of now elderly Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Tokyo during the last century.

A further source of contention is a series of state-published history textbooks for all middle and high school students -- the materials are deemed pro-conservative by opponents and could well fuel more conflict if they come into use in early 2017, especially in light of the weekly mass street protests that piled so much pressure on Park before her impeachment.