The Path To Impeachment

Roh Moo Hyun promised to shake up South Korea's political and business establishment, but his presidency has been beset by scandals and haplessness. Now his political enemies are trying to turn him out of office. How did he turn electoral triumph into disaster so quickly?

2002
December
• A former human-rights lawyer, Roh narrowly wins election, aided by a boost from anti-American sentiment among younger Koreans and from voters' pent-up desire for reform

2003
February
• Roh is sworn in as the country's ninth President, succeeding the founder of his Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), Kim Dae Jung

March
• Roh's troubled relationship with the U.S.—he vowed during his election campaign not to "kowtow" to his main ally—is further shaken when he sends an inexperienced diplomatic team to Washington for talks on North Korea

• Critics accuse Roh of mishandling labor strikes, including a two-month stoppage at power-equipment maker Doosan Construction, and further disrupting the nation's ailing economy

May
• Unaccustomed to the pressures of office, Roh admits, "I feel incompetent as President." He also denies allegations from his political opponents that he hid real estate assets under his brother's name

September
• Political infighting results in Roh quitting the MDP. Thirty-seven of his supporters also defect, and form the Uri Party

October
• A Roh aide, Choi Do Sul, is arrested on charges of accepting $956,000 in bribes from SK Group, one of South Korea's biggest corporations, during last year's presidential election. Two other aides come under investigation for allegedly taking illegal campaign contributions. Roh's popularity rating drops below 30%

• As the corruption scandal intensifies, Roh tells a national TV audience "I have no confidence in doing my job under this situation" Seeking to reaffirm public support, he proposes an unusual—and, critics say, unconstitutional—national referendum on his leadership, vowing to resign if he fares poorly

December
• The National Assembly passes a bill setting up an independent probe into election graft; Roh pledges to resign if investigators find his election campaign accepted more than one-tenth the amount of illegal contributions allegedly received by the opposition Grand National Party

2004
March
• Opposition lawmakers submit the country's first-ever presidential impeachment motion, after Roh is found to have violated election laws by urging public support for the Uri Party in the upcoming election. South Korean law forbids the President from getting involved in general elections

• The country is plunged into political crisis after Roh is impeached and his powers suspended. The crisis sparks nationwide street protests; outraged by the targeting of Roh, one supporter sets himself on fire