Choi Jang-jip: "High Possibility That President Moon Initiated Talks on MB and Park Geun-hye's Pardon"

Choi Jang-jip, Honorary Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Korea University, is delivering the keynote speech at the 7th Yoon Hoo-jung Unification Forum held on October 27 last year afternoon at Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the theme of "Inter-Korean Relations and Unification in the Pandemic Era." Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Progressive political scientist Choi Jang-jip, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Diplomacy at Korea University, analyzed that "there is a high possibility that President Moon Jae-in floated a trial balloon" regarding Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and his remarks on the pardons of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

In an interview with Sisa Journal on the 5th, Professor Choi said, "President Moon brought up the topic (of pardons), and Leader Lee expressed his opinion to gauge public reaction."

Professor Choi emphasized that the pardons of the two former presidents must be carried out. He stated, "Although the impeachment of former President Park could have been pursued as an extension of the Candlelight Protests, it was problematic to proceed with judicial punishment," adding, "Political considerations are important regarding acts of governance while in office."

He further pointed out, "Judging and imprisoning a president purely based on legal standards worsens the problems in Korean politics."

He stressed, "To resolve the intense hostile politics between the conservative and progressive camps following the Candlelight Protests, President Moon's decisive pardon is necessary."

Regarding the cause of worsening hostile politics under the Moon administration, he criticized, "The government only engages in politics based on 'public opinion.'"

Professor Choi said, "All issues are decided relying on opinion groups called public opinion," and "This leads to a pretense of governance where the rule of law is impossible." He added, "There was no consultation between political parties, opposition was treated as hostility, and the government was run this way. This caused severe polarization."

In particular, Professor Choi said, "They interpreted and monopolized the Candlelight Protests according to their own will and operated the state under the banner of 'clearing out deep-rooted evils' with a nationalist approach." He claimed, "The government established by the Candlelight Protests is betraying the protests and threatening democracy."

Meanwhile, earlier in June last year, Professor Choi contributed a paper titled "Rethinking Korean Democracy" to the Korea Politics Research Institute at Seoul National University, where he argued that "the so-called 'ppa' (hardcore fans) phenomenon, who passionately follow specific politicians, is a political movement centered on strong cohesion and aggressiveness," and "the organized majority dominates the public sphere, leading public opinion and devastating the civic public sphere."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.