Asia Round-up: South Korea’s president impeached, Trump taps China ambassador

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SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - DECEMBER 09: In this handout photo released by the South Korean Presidential Blue House, South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye attends the emergency cabinet meeting at the presidential office on December 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea. The South Korean National Assembly voted for an impeachment motion at its plenary session, which will set up the rare impeachment trial for President Park over the accusation of corruption involving Park and her long time confidante. (Photo by South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images) — In this handout photo released by the South Korean Presidential Blue House, South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye attends the emergency cabinet meeting at the presidential office on December 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea.

After months of corruption scandals, South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye has been impeached Friday, with a final vote of 234-56 in the National Assembly, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will replace her, and has called a meeting of security officials Friday, promising to stand strong on any potential threat from their northern neighbors. We dive into the impeachment and discuss what’s next for South Korea, with Tufts Professor of Korean Studies, Sung Yoon Lee.

Meanwhile, Trump tapped Iowa governor Terry Branstad as ambassador to China. According to the New York Times, Branstad has called China’s president Xi Jinping an “old friend” – and Branstad’s new role may signal a friendlier U.S.-China relationship. Host Larry Mantle explores the possibilities with Clayton Dube, director of the USC U.S.-China Institute.

Guests:

Sung Yoon Lee, an expert on the Koreas, and a professor in Korean Studies at Tufts University

Clayton Dube, director of the USC U.S.-China Institute