Thousands protest S. Korea impeachment
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-13 08:47

Thousands of angry South Koreans held candlelight vigils across the country to protest the historic impeachment of their president on Friday. An interim head of state known as "Mr. Stability" took control, pledging to keep foreign and economic policies on an even keel.

The spontaneous evening protests were peaceful but underlined widespread dismay at a political crisis that has rattled a nation already juggling the North Korean nuclear standoff, a sluggish economy and a tumultuous run-up to hotly contested parliamentary elections next month.

The presidential impeachment was a first in South Korea, and the vote followed hours of televised shoving matches in which lawmakers battled for control of the assembly's podium, throwing elbows and pulling hair. Security guards forcibly removed screaming supporters of President Roh Moo-hyun who tried to block the vote by commandeering the rostrum.

Prime Minister Goh Kun, who assumed executive powers from Roh, spoke of the need to "stabilize the people's lives and ensure that the country's international credibility will not be damaged."

In a phone call to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon stressed the government's commitment to continuity. He told Powell there would be no change in Seoul's policy toward North Korea and that the government would "maintain its close alliance with the United States," according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The 66-year-old Goh, who held various posts under six successive governments, earned the nicknames "Mr. Stability" and "Master Administrator" for his ability to survive military coups, civic unrest and parliamentary machinations.

Goh will perform the executive duties until the Constitutional Court rules on whether to unseat Roh, a decision that could take six months. The opposition-controlled National Assembly voted Friday morning to impeach Roh on the grounds of illegal electioneering and incompetence.

By Friday evening, protests erupted around the country, including rallies in Seoul, Busan, Taegu and Kwangju. Police estimated about 12,000 Roh supporters gathered outside the capital's National Assembly, waving candles and chanting, "Impeachment is null and void!"

Riot police parked buses bumper-to-bumper to block protesters from marching on parliament.

Fueling the rallies was a widespread perception that the opposition Grand National and Millennium Democratic parties launched the impeachment bid for political gain ahead of nationwide parliamentary polls April 15.

Polls taken by broadcaster KBS and Yonhap news agency both found that 70 percent of South Koreans thought the impeachment was wrong. The KBS poll's margin of error was 3.3 percentage points; Yonhap's was 3.07 percentage points.

Roh, a 57-year-old former human rights lawyer, came to office last February on a populist ticket that promised South Koreans better relations with communist North Korea and a more equal footing with the country's biggest ally, the United States.

His 13-month tenure was dogged by corruption scandals, but Friday's vote was a crowning embarrassment for the feisty, independent leader.

Government leaders called emergency meetings to chart a stable course amid concerns the upheaval would fan the ongoing crisis over North Korea's nuclear programs or undermine the South's fragile economy.

Roh took power promising to continue his predecessor's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea. South Korea has backed the idea of offering the communist North aid in return for a nuclear freeze and dismantlement.

North Korea watchers agreed the impeachment wouldn't alter the South's basic policy, but said it could lead to Seoul's taking a harder line toward the North — especially if a new leader takes office.

"If there is any effect, Seoul may become a bit more stern toward North Korea," said Park Joon-young, a politics professor at Ewha Women's University in Seoul.

That scenario is more likely if the GNP, known for its tougher stance against the North and more Washington-friendly foreign policy, is able take the presidency.

South Korea heightened its military vigilance against the North on Friday but the Defense Ministry said it saw no signs of unusual North Korean troop movements. On Saturday, U.S. Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, was scheduled to meet Defense Minister Cho Young-kil.

Investors recoiled and sent the country's KOSPI stock index tumbling 5.5 percent at one point. It closed down 2.5 percent. South Korea's currency, the won, fell by about 1 percent, closing at 1,180 to the dollar.

The opposition-backed impeachment motion had cited Roh's alleged mismanagement of the economy as one reason for trying to oust him. South Korea's economic growth rate slowed to 2.9 percent last year, from 6.3 percent in 2002.

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