Even by the rough and tumble standards of South Korean politics, the events of last week were tumultuous. On Friday, the South Korean Parliament impeached President Roh Moo Hyun. President Roh is likely to prevail in this squabble with the opposition, but the unprecedented move has introduced new uncertainties at a time when South Korea -- and its neighbors -- needs predictability and stability. The zero-sum calculations that dominate South Korean politics do the country a disservice. There is little indication that politicians in Seoul appreciate the need to put the interests of the nation above their own and those of their parties.
Mr. Roh was charged with making statements that appeared to favor the Uri Party in the runup to parliamentary elections that will be held April 15. That is a violation of South Korean law, which requires executive-branch officials to remain neutral. Uri is a new party -- it split from the Millennium Democratic Party that supported Mr. Roh when he was a candidate -- and while the president has not yet joined, he is expected to do so after the April ballot.
Following a ruling by the National Election Commission that Mr. Roh had broken the law, the South Korean National Assembly voted 193 to 2 in favor of impeachment, easily surpassing the two-thirds majority needed in the 273 member Parliament. (All other legislators abstained or were not present.) The case now goes to the Constitutional Court. Nine judges have 180 days to decide on the legitimacy of the impeachment, although they have said they will act long before that deadline. Six must agree to remove him from office. In the interim, Prime Minister Goh Kun will run the government.