Daegu City National Audit on the 23rd, Heated Exchange Between Daegu Mayor and Opposition Lawmakers
Fiery Debate Over Road Occupancy Permit for Queer Festival
Regarding the 'clash of public authority' between the police and Daegu city officials during the Daegu Queer Culture Festival last June, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo raised his voice, saying, "I know the law better." In response, Yong Hye-in, a member of the Basic Income Party, criticized, "Just because the voice is loud doesn't mean that what is wrong becomes right."
On the 23rd, Yong posted on her Facebook, "I hoped that the experienced Mayor Hong Joon-pyo would show the maturity to admit his mistakes, but today he continued only with shouting," she said.
Yong Hye-in, a member of the Basic Income Party, is questioning during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Daegu City held at the Sanggyeok Office of Daegu City Hall on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
At the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's inspection of Daegu City on the 23rd, a heated exchange occurred between Mayor Hong and Representative Yong over the clash between the police and city officials regarding the road occupancy permit for the Daegu Queer Culture Festival last June.
Yong referred to court precedents and the Ministry of Government Legislation's legal interpretations concerning local governments' road occupancy permits, arguing, "(The assembly permit) is clearly an overreach, an illegal act, and an obstruction of official duties."
In response, Mayor Hong emphasized, based on Article 12 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, that to hold an assembly in a restricted area, one must obtain a road occupancy permit from Daegu City, saying, "I know the law better."
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is responding to questions during the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Daegu City held at the Sangyeok Office of Daegu City Hall on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
Yong pointed out, "The Seoul Central District Court, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Government Legislation all refute Mayor Hong Joon-pyo's claims," adding, "Rather, it is Mayor Hong who stubbornly insists on unlawful practices alone."
She continued, "Article 12 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, which Mayor Hong emphasized, stipulates that the authority to restrict assemblies on major roads lies not with the head of the local government but with the 'chief of the police station.' In other words, if the police in charge of traffic judge that restrictions are unnecessary, the role of the local government is to focus on minimizing administrative traffic inconvenience."
Yong criticized, "Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, a former prosecutor, is even denying the constitution to justify his illegal actions," and directly stated, "I will return his words as they are. Lawless governance without reflection?that is exactly what an amateur mayor is."
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