Deployment of THAAD will erase Park’s achievements

Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye has erased her previous achievements regarding China and committed a major political error by implementing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system, Chinese experts said.

Huang Youfu, a Korean studies professor at Minzu University of China, said China-ROK ties reached a peak after Park became president for a single five-year term in 2013, and she was held in high esteem by Chinese people after she came to Beijing in September to attend the military parade marking the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War against Japanese Aggression and World War II. She attended the event despite strong pressure from the US on her not to go.

“It is a pity that she has erased her previous achievements as the end of her term approaches. She leaves a mess for her successor,” he said.

Shi Yongming, an Asia-Pacific studies researcher at the China Institute of International Relations, said, in the long run, Seoul could see commercial opportunities with China suffer.

Stock prices of major ROK listed entertainment agency companies have seen a notable decline in the past month due to subdued interest in China for ROK pop culture following the announcement that the anti-missile system would be deployed.

Kim Sang-gon, a leading member of the ROK’s main opposition Minju Party, said Park has turned a blind eye to growing public opposition

THAAD is not about defending Seoul from possible missile attacks from Pyongyang. It is just to serve US interests.” Kim Sang-gon,

over THAAD deployment.

Shi said that in the Republic of Korea, “people are very clear that the THAAD is not about defending Seoul from possible missile attacks from Pyongyang”, as long-range missiles are of limited use to deal with short-range attacks.

“It is just to serve US interests.”

Shi said the implementation of the THAAD will end the trend of reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula and will instead introduce a new Cold War. “It is the wrong decision in every aspect, and naturally it has brought severe domestic conflicts.”

For China, he said, the impact is that “it has changed the strategic partnership between Beijing and Seoul”, and the basis of bilateral economic cooperation.

About talks regarding impeaching Park, Shi said it will be very difficult as there was no clear precedent in the history of the ROK. “And the US will definitely intervene to protect its strategic interests. So it won’t be a pure domestic issue for the ROK.”