It is just three years on from the massive candlelight

revolution which led to the downfall and imprisonment

of former President Park.

And now, the current leader Moon Jae-in

has found himself in the biggest political fight

of his presidency.

The controversial pick of the man

he wanted to be justice minister backfired and caused outrage

among opposition groups, as the minister's own family became

embroiled in the corruption scandal.

The export dependent economy in South Korea

is now facing rising headwinds from

the global economic slowdown and a longer than expected downturn

for the country's critical computer chip makers.

The US-China trade war and a simmering dispute

between Seoul and Tokyo is adding further pressure,

forcing the Bank of Korea to cut interest rates to record lows,

and prompting the government to push

for the biggest fiscal stimulus since the financial crisis.

Mr Moon's hallmark policy of seeking engagement

with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un

in a bid to bring about peace on the Korean peninsula

has also hit roadblocks, with the North Koreans returning

to regular weapons tests and talks over denuclearisation,

once again looking like they are in a deadlock.

With the South Korean president's approval ratings

plunging to record lows and elections

in the parliament looming in April 2020,

fears are rising from some quarters

that Mr Moon could become a lame duck president,

and his ability to continue to push for engagement with North

Korea might, too, become dead in the water.