A Curse or the System? Why South Korean Presidents End Up in Scandals.

Over the past 60 years, most South Korean presidents have faced tragic endings to their careers, including prison sentences, impeachments, revolutions, or even death. The only exception has been Moon Jae-in, who completed his term without controversy.

Dec 5, 2024 - 11:42
Dec 5, 2024 - 11:58
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A Curse or the System? Why South Korean Presidents End Up in Scandals.
Photo taken from public sources

A Chronicle of Downfalls

  1. Rhee Syng-man (1948–1960) — South Korea’s first president, ousted during the April Revolution of 1960.
  2. Yun Bo-seon (1960–1962) — removed from office after a military coup.
  3. Park Chung-hee (1963–1979) — ruled for 16 years and was assassinated after attempting to establish total dictatorship.
  4. Choi Kyu-hah (1979–1980) — overthrown in another military coup.
  5. Chun Doo-hwan (1980–1988) — sentenced to death for corruption and suppressing protests, later pardoned.
  6. Roh Tae-woo (1988–1993) — jailed for 22.5 years for corruption and coup participation.
  7. Kim Young-sam (1993–1998) — placed under house arrest for organizing protests.
  8. Kim Dae-jung (1998–2003) — sentenced to death earlier but later became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
  9. Roh Moo-hyun (2003–2008) — accused of corruption, committed suicide.
  10. Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013) — sentenced to 15 years for corruption.
  11. Park Geun-hye (2013–2017) — impeached and sentenced to 20 years for corruption.
  12. Moon Jae-in (2017–2022) — completed his term scandal-free.
  13. Yoon Suk Yeol (2022–present) — already facing impeachment threats.

Reasons for Political Instability

  1. Cultural Factors. High public expectations lead to harsh criticism of leaders' mistakes.
  2. Corruption. Financial misconduct is a recurring issue among politicians.
  3. Authoritarian Tendencies. Persistent attempts to consolidate power.
  4. Active Civil Society. Protests often play a decisive role in leadership changes.

What Lies Ahead for Yoon Suk Yeol?

South Korea’s current president is already embroiled in a crisis. The opposition is demanding his resignation and threatening impeachment, casting doubt on his political future.

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