2005 Annual Meeting: Border-Crossing Sessions

KOREA SESSION 183

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Session 183: Roundtable: The Impeachment of Roh, Moo Hyun: One Year Later

Organizer and Chair: Ilhyung Lee, University of Missouri

Discussants: Meredith Woo-Cumings, University of Michigan; John Ohnesorge, University of Wisconsin, Madison; G. Cameron Hurst, University of Pennsylvania; Ilhyung Lee, University of Missouri

Keywords: Korea, presidential politics, impeachment, rule of law.

In March 2004, Korea’s National Assembly impeached President Roh, Moo Hyun, in a highly charged setting. The formal grounds for impeachment were the President’s alleged violation of specified laws, economic mismanagement, and corruption among staff and subordinates. Public opinion ran strongly against impeachment. Indeed, Assembly elections in April 2004 resulted in the pro-impeachment opposition party losing many of its seats, while the minority party more supportive of Roh nearly tripled in size. On May 14, 2004, the Constitutional Court set aside the impeachment. With full presidential powers restored, Roh apologized for his actions that led to the impeachment, promised new leadership, and urged compromise to face challenges ahead.

The participants of the roundtable will address various social, political and legal aspects of the impeachment:
  • Professor Meredith Woo-Cumings (University of Michigan) will comment on the impact of the impeachment on party realignment in national politics.
  • Professor John Ohnesorge (University of Wisconsin) will comment on the desired frequency of impeachment in Korea’s democracy.
  • Professor Ilhyung Lee (University of Missouri) will address the impact of the impeachment on the notion of the "rule of law" in Korean society.
  • Professor G. Cameron Hurst (University of Pennsylvania) will serve as the panel discussant.
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