Kenji Yoshida 
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American-Korean parliamentarian Ihn Yo-han warns that South Korea faces imminent challenges amid political turbulence.
With the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment around the corner, tensions are running high. If at least six of the eight judges uphold the motion, Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a snap election within 60 days. Otherwise, he will be reinstated.
Whatever the decision, the incoming chief executive will face heavy responsibilities, from navigating regional geopolitical tensions to addressing the domestic medical crisis.
In an exclusive interview with JAPAN Forward, senior ruling party lawmaker and physician, Ihn Yo-han, discusses these issues. A fourth-generation member of a United States missionary family, Ihn obtained South Korean citizenship in 2012.
Crisis of Government?
How do you anticipate the Constitutional Court will rule?
I believe the Constitutional Court should reject President Yoon's case without prejudice on the grounds of insufficient due process. The specifics of the case are secondary. What matters is that due process was not followed, and therefore, the motion should be dismissed entirely.
If President Yoon returns, what should be his top priority?
First, those who unlawfully incarcerated President Yoon should face prosecution. This is not an emotional response or partisan politics. If the law was misapplied, those responsible must be held accountable.
Next, reforms could be made to existing laws to shorten President Yoon's tenure. I do not expect the president to complete the remainder of his two-year term. In fact, President Yoon himself made similar remarks during his final argument at the Constitutional Court. He's willing to step down sooner, but only after he brings political order and calm to the country.
A constitutional amendment to revise South Korea's current five-year, single-term presidential system may likewise take place. Many are calling for reform ー and rightly so. Several presidents have ended up in jail after completing their tenure, and one even committed suicide. Something is deeply wrong with the present system that doesn't bode well with our culture.
How about in diplomacy and security?
Since President Yoon's impeachment, South Korea has experienced a significant void in foreign policy and security. I remember pleading with a member of the opposition's supreme council not to impeach Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duk-soo for the sake of stability. In response, he called me an "insurgent sympathizer."
Once reinstated, the president must craft a strategy for addressing the Trump administration. He should focus on issues like reciprocal taxes, trade surpluses, and tariffs — areas where South Korea, like Japan, has much to deal with.
National Security Threats and Deterrence
What are your thoughts on the growing calls to acquire nuclear weapons?
More than 70% of South Koreans consistently poll in favor of acquiring a nuclear weapon. Whether through redeploying American tactical nuclear weapons or developing indigenous ones, such discussions are inevitable given North Korea's determination to maintain its nuclear arsenal.
I do not foresee the North Korean regime abandoning its nukes anytime soon. I told the late President Roh Moo-hyun some 25 years ago, point blank, that the Kim family would never give up their nukes. Unfortunately, I was right. When South Korea possesses its land-based nuclear weapons, we can begin discussing the possibility of lifting sanctions against the North.
President Trump is a very practical man. I believe he'll support the idea of redeploying American tactical nuclear weapons, which left the Peninsula in 1991, or of South Korea acquiring its own nuclear weapons. The nuclearization of North Korea provides a strong rationale for Northeast Asian countries, including Japan, to pursue nuclear capabilities.
In January, the Biden administration designated South Korea as a sensitive country. What do you think is behind this decision?
Joseph Yun, the acting US Ambassador to South Korea, stated that the US Energy Department placed South Korea on a watchlist due to incidents of visitors mishandling sensitive information at its laboratories.
My perspective is different. I believe South Korea was placed on Washington's watchlist precisely because of our domestic political turmoil. The opposition parties caused more disruption in the past several months than during the December 3 martial law declaration itself.
Their complete refusal to compromise, along with railroading 30 impeachments, is abnormal behavior. If I were to compare it to a patient, the opposition would be psychologically unwell.
Behind the Domestic Turmoil
Why is the lead opposition, the Democratic Party, acting so recklessly?
The Democratic Party's sole mission is to bring down President Yoon and elevate its leader, Lee Jae-myung, to the presidency. Lee is currently embroiled in several criminal trials for allegedly breaking multiple laws. And opposition lawmakers are rushing to make him president in the hopes of securing his absolution from these crimes.
I have seen them in action for the last nine months in Parliament. They don't care about the country or their party. It's shameful, especially considering they are the party of the late President Kim Dae-jung, whom I deeply respect. Kim knew how to compromise with his political opponents and guided the nation through the difficult times of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
What the current Democratic Party is doing is completely at odds with the spirit and values of the Kim era. In many ways, they are more threatening to South Korea's democracy than the authoritarian eras of Chun Doo-hwan. This is because while the Democrats purport to be democratic, they are not.
Lee Jae Myung's appeals court sentencing is on the 26th. What are your thoughts?
That sentencing is for Lee's alleged violation of the election laws. Even if the appeals court upholds the lower court's conviction, Lee is expected to challenge the ruling.
But remember, this is just part of the larger picture. Lee is also accused of illicitly funneling bulk cash to North Korea during his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province to facilitate a meeting with Kim Jong Un. This isn't merely a breach of domestic law. It also violates American and United Nations sanctions against North Korea. For Japan, this has significant implications as well.
Despite this, no one in the opposition party criticizes Lee. This is very unhealthy. Look at our People Power Party — we have disagreements and infighting, which isn't always bad.
Take myself, for example. I'm a Westerner serving as a Supreme Council member of the ruling party. We also have Park Choong-kwon, a North Korean defector, serving as a lawmaker in our party. In many ways, we are more progressive and inclusive than the liberal opposition.
How do you assess the doctor strike and medical crisis in South Korea that has become a major issue under Yoon's government?
I have been a doctor for 37 years. Observing the current crisis, it's truly unfortunate. Physicians were not consulted during the initial negotiations for reform. Perhaps the decision to increase the number of medical students [by approximately 2,000 per year] was a bit too radical.
But it's not just about medical student enrollments. We also face many other pressing issues. For instance, the fee-for-service model needs significant reform. Risk-intensive fields like obstetrics and gynecology, chest surgery, neurosurgery, and pediatric surgery involve high risks but offer very low compensation. South Korea's medical system demands a fundamental overhaul.
Fortunately, half of the medical students have returned to their posts, signaling that the strike is coming to an end. I plead with students and physicians to engage with the government within the system rather than outside of it.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
このページを 日本語 で読む
