Following President Park Geun-hye’s ambiguous offer to cut her term short, a timetable has emerged from political circles: Park should resign in April and an election for the new president should take place in June. 

The country’s divided parliament has not reached a consensus on this time frame, but it may gain support going forward, as it is backed by a group of some 40 lawmakers who hold the key to solving the current political stalemate, political observers said.

The conservative ruling Saenuri Party, in a general assembly of its lawmakers, officially decided to propose the schedule, in response to the president’s call Tuesday for rival parties to decide the fate of her presidency.

It was a surprise agreement because the party is deeply divided into two factions: the over 40 lawmakers moving to join the opposition-led campaign to impeach Park and the rest who remain loyal to the president.

“For a safe and smooth transition of power and preparations for a presidential election, party lawmakers unanimously agreed that the end of April would be the best timing (for Park’s departure),” Saenuri floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk told reporters.
He added that the schedule does not deviate greatly from one that would be presented by the opposition-led impeachment of Park. If the impeachment motion succeeds and the court approves it, Park would be stripped of her job around April, he said.

The opposition coalition is trying to vote on Park’s impeachment no later than next Friday. The Constitutional Court is required to decide whether to approve it within 180 days of the parliamentary resolution. In the previous case against the late President Roh Moo-hyun -- in which the court decided against the parliamentary motion and reinstated the president -- the trial took 63 days. 

The Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday reiterated that the president has made clear her intention to accept whatever time frame and legal procedure that rival parties agree on. 

By Lee Sun-young  (milaya@heraldcorp.com)