Democratic Party Launches Fierce Attack on Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don After Receiving Election Nullification Sentence in Second Trial

Democratic Party Cheonan City Council Member: "Citizens' Pride and City's Status Have Fallen to the Bottom... Must Resign"
Mayor Park Sang-don: "Apologize to Citizens... Will Explain at Supreme Court Following Procedures"

Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don was found guilty in the second trial on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, prompting the Democratic Party of Korea to intensify its attacks, vowing to hold him strictly accountable.

On the 27th, the Democratic Party's Chungnam Provincial Party issued a statement saying, "Although the Supreme Court ruling is still pending, a vacancy and confusion in Cheonan's city administration have become inevitable," and added, "Citizens will hold accountability for this strictly in the upcoming general election."

The Democratic Party criticized, "Mayor Park, who was indicted for mobilizing public officials for election campaigning and spreading false information during the 2022 local elections and was acquitted in the first trial, had the original verdict overturned by the second trial court, which sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year probation, resulting in disqualification from office. Such violations undermine the principles of fair elections and severely damage citizens' trust, which is unacceptable in a democratic society."

They continued, "Mayor Park must take the second trial verdict, which overturned the first trial's acquittal, very seriously," and argued, "If he truly feels the weight of responsibility, Mayor Park and the People Power Party must bow their heads in apology to the citizens and do their utmost to prevent administrative confusion."

Council members of Cheonan City Council affiliated with the Democratic Party demanded Mayor Park Sang-don's immediate resignation.

At a press conference held at the Cheonan City Hall briefing room that day, they pointed out, "Mayor Park used public officials as a shield and exploited his position to fulfill his personal political ambitions," and criticized, "Due to Mayor Park's shamelessness, the pride of 700,000 Cheonan citizens and the city's status have plummeted to the bottom."

They raised their voices, saying, "Public officials who violate the Public Official Election Act by abusing their office must immediately resign from the mayoral position," and "The only path Mayor Park can choose is not to appeal but to offer a sincere apology."

On the 27th, Park Sang-don, the mayor of Cheonan, visited the Cheonan City Hall briefing room to express his position regarding his guilty verdict.

Mayor Park Sang-don of Cheonan apologized to the citizens but stated that he will clarify his position at the Supreme Court following proper procedures.

Mayor Park bowed his head and said, "First of all, I apologize for causing concerns among citizens that, following the previous mayor, the current mayor might also end up with a trial."

He added, "Although there are some parts of the second trial court's ruling that are somewhat difficult to accept, it would be disrespectful to the court to explain each point," and said, "I will clarify at the Supreme Court that I did not commit any illegal acts according to the procedures."