Lawmakers, political parties, media outlets and academics are all at odds over the fate of President Park Geun-hye.

Given the uniqueness of the situation, their indecisiveness is understandable -- the allegations Park allowed her confidante Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs is unprecedented in the nation’s modern history.

However, it seems some politicians, including presidential hopefuls, are trying to count their chickens before they have hatched. They are either misreading, neglecting or seeking to dilute the demands of the majority of citizens.

They should be aware the dominant portion of citizens who are demanding Park resign are controlled neither by liberal party leaders nor progressive civic entities.

Though the ruling Saenuri Party is not free from responsibility in the Park Geun-hye scandal, the point is that the public’s fury is more focused on the president’s individual misconduct, including her violation of the law and sharing of state authority, entrusted by voters, with nongovernmental friends. So their protest goes beyond the conventional frame of conservatives vs. liberals or Gyeongsang vs. Jeolla provinces.

The nation showed how deep their anger truly is, with an estimated 1 million people protesting at the doorstep of Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday.

While the crowd could be heard demanding Park resign, it didn’t make any concessions. Park’s idea of setting up a neutral Cabinet -- under which she will yield some of her authority to the prime minister -- was not among their demands. Instead, they called for her impeachment if she eventually refuses to step down.

Some presidential hopefuls of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea failed to accurately reflect the people’s demand in the initial stages of the demonstration, which started in late October.

For the past three weeks, the party has received criticism from citizens for failing to suggest more than a neutral Cabinet alternative and lack of leadership as the first-tier opposition.

With the huge turnout Saturday, some contenders of the ruling Saenuri Party have called for the start of an impeachment process despite their accountability for turning a blind eye to Park’s incompetence and irregularities. Their shifting to a tough stance is seen as a political ploy, as they have refrained from bringing up resignation. Lamentably, pro-Park lawmakers are still arguing for the continuation of Park’s term via a neutral Cabinet.

From earlier this week, the main opposition party, and some members of the ruling party, have joined the demands of citizens and minor opposition parties.

Politicians should be aware voters could choose to oust some of them in the coming elections, though the voters’ urgent goal is to drive out President Park.

Yet, Cheong Wa Dae is still testing the patience of its citizens, as it has expressed skepticism about resignation. The presidential office holds the position that it cannot halt constitutional administrative activities.

Park has already provided her supporters and other citizens extreme humiliation. If she has any conscience, she should return all of her authority to the voters immediately. At the least, she has to promise her departure, designating a particular week in the near future for doing so.

Her current obstinacy could paralyze crucial state affairs such as diplomacy, economy and national defense.

The prosecution, and the independent counsel proposed by the National Assembly, are set to investigate the incumbent president. During the process, any fresh allegations or evidence would certainly inflate public anger, which would further smear the nation’s dignity on the international stage.

It would be better for her to be investigated as a civilian and wait for the court’s verdict, which would decide whether or not she is guilty. If she tries to delay the investigation and court trials for fear of possible imprisonment, furious citizens are unlikely to stop their rallies across the country.

Park may not mind the ongoing situation. If so, it is a tragedy for the Republic of Korea.

Voters will also have the critical responsibility of not repeating the mistake of selecting this sort of insincere, incompetent and impudent leader.