Acting SKorean leader denies presidential ambition

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL

South Korea’s acting leader Hwang Kyo-ahn distanced himself Tuesday from running in next year’s election to decide impeached President Park Geun-hye’s successor.

Hwang faced up to questions from lawmakers having backed down from his initial refusal to attend the National Assembly’s interpellation session.

The prime minister also became acting president following the Assembly’s overwhelming vote to impeach Park on December 9 over a power abuse scandal that is still unfolding.

Having been part of the Park administration since 2013, Hwang’s status even as interim leader has been unpopular among lawmakers of the South’s powerful liberal bloc, who have been further perturbed by speculation the PM could emerge as an actual presidential candidate for the conservative ruling party, which is struggling to keep up with the main opposition in opinion polls.

But when asked whether he has any plan to run for president, Hwang was quoted by The Korea Herald as telling lawmakers Tuesday: “I don’t at all.”

Whatever happens, the acting leader will have to steer South Korea through some potentially decisive moments in the coming weeks – such as when the United States, a key ally, comes under the leadership of Donald Trump in January.

There has been wariness in the South concerning the impact Trump could have on a range of interests from military ties, to trade, to the delicate diplomatic web involving China and North Korea among others.

Hwang insisted Seoul has been “preparing for all possibilities”.

As for his interim leadership beyond January, it is not yet clear how long the PM will have to act as South Korea’s leader – the Constitutional Court has up to six months to either confirm or overturn Park’s ousting.

Her impeachment case will come to the fore Thursday afternoon with a first preparatory hearing, it was confirmed Tuesday.

The suspended president’s lawyers have denied more than a dozen charges, including allegations linked to a secret confidante and claims that Park helped force conglomerates to make donations.

It is expected that the trial will not begin in earnest until next month, but the question is only when – not if – the South will see an election next year as the nation was originally scheduled anyway to pick a new leader at the end of 2017.