태국 왕실의 ‘검사 프린세스’ 별세, 안갯속에 잠긴 왕위 계승의 미래 > K-wave Trends

Princess Pacharakitiyapa was more than just a royal, she was a symbol of a modern leader who took the lead in protecting the rule of law and human rights. After earning a master's and doctoral degree in law from Cornell University in the United States, he worked as a prosecutor at the Prosecutor's Office and worked on the front lines of the judicial system. He later gained international insight by working as an ambassador to Austria and a goodwill ambassador for the rule of law at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In particular, her dedication to promoting the human rights of prisoners, especially pregnant female prisoners, earned her the friendly and respectful nickname 'Prosecutor Princess' from the public. In 2021, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Royal Guard Command and received the rank of general, faithfully performing his role as a bridge between the military and the royal family, and demonstrating his qualities as the next monarch with both popular popularity and practical capabilities.

However, in December 2022, the death of the princess, who collapsed from heart disease while exercising with her dog, deeply shocked the entire Thailand. At the time, medical staff identified heart inflammation caused by mycoplasma infection and resulting arrhythmia as the cause of the disease, but his health continued to deteriorate, including intra-abdominal infection and blood coagulation disorders, and he never regained consciousness. The Thai royal family officially announced the end of the princess, who had been struggling for life while relying on an artificial heart-lung device for more than three years, saying that she passed away peacefully at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok on the afternoon of the 11th. Thai people have been pouring in their condolences outside the hospital, holding pictures of the princess and wearing badges, proving the deep emotional connection she had with the people beyond just being a member of the royal family.

The impact that the princess's death will have on Thailand's political situation is truly enormous, and the biggest concern is that the succession structure to the throne has fallen into extreme uncertainty. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, currently 73 years old, has not yet named an official successor, and this incident effectively brings the royal family's succession structure back to square one. Although the Thai Constitution provides an open path for women to ascend to the throne, the current situation in which a competent successor has been lost remains a critical task for the King: how to secure public trust in the next king's power. Although there is Prince Dipankorn, who was mentioned as a likely successor, the prevailing opinion is that he does not match the weight of Princess Pacharakitiyapa in terms of his capabilities and public awareness.

The unstable internal situation of the Thai royal family can be glimpsed through past cases. For example, incidents in the past when the king suddenly stripped his consort Sininat of her position and dismissed a large number of royal officials showed how fluid and tense the power dynamics within the royal family were. In a situation where, along with these internal conflicts, the private actions and scandals of royal family members were on the cutting edge of public opinion, Princess Pacharakitiyapa was almost the only stabilizer who could establish the authority of the royal family and gather public support. Now that the royal family has lost its strongest support base, it faces the double whammy of maintaining royal traditions while finding a new successor with the transparency and capabilities required by modern society.