Is It Time to Write the Bye-Ku for Roh?

Probably not, but who could resist?

His kimchee, spiced with
his beloved Dear Leader’s
atoms, grew too deep . . . .

Well, I have to admit I’m torn on this one. Had they impeached him for utter incompetence, even emotional instability, I’d support it–however reluctant I may be to see an elected leader leave office before the end of his term. But this petty election violation doesn’t justify removal from office in my mind. The oppo should have just been honest about it–Roh’s a boy in a man’s world, a succulent slice of shabu-shabu in a pool full of sharks.

Yet it’s a move in the right direction for Korea in one important way–this was peaceful, legal, and constitutional, and it’s not final until the courts approve it. I had honestly begun to worry about the military stepping in, which would be an utter disaster.

Korea is in for a rocky period of weak leadership regardless of how the court rules. I think the only way to get past this is with new elections. This time, the people of South Korea need to show up. The three-party shenanigans and last-minute back-stabbing of the last election, the low turnout it produced, and the use of exploitive xenophobia at its lowest created a perfect storm for the forces of appeasement.

Korea must either use this opportunity for a new choice to get smarter or be permitted to make its own decision to perish of its own free will. But I�m not hopeful. In fact, this whole thing will probably backfire on the oppo.