Democratic Party: "Immediate Resignation Is the Duty of a Public Official"
Asan Citizens' Solidarity: "Voluntary Resignation Is the Only Way to Ease Citizens' Anxiety"
Asan Mayor Park Kyunggui, who is currently on trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, has been sentenced to a fine of 15 million won?an amount that would nullify his election?in the retrial following the Supreme Court's remand. In response, local political circles have begun calling for his resignation.
On the 9th, the Daejeon High Court's 3rd Criminal Division sentenced Mayor Park to a 15 million won fine in the retrial for violating the Public Official Election Act, upholding the original verdict.
The court stated, "Although there was no objective evidence of former Mayor Oh's false real estate sale, a statement was written as if it were true, which constitutes willful negligence," and added, "Given the unpredictable outcome of the election at the time, and considering the impact of this false statement on the election, a severe punishment is necessary."
With both appeals courts delivering verdicts that would nullify his election, the Chungnam Provincial Chapter of the Democratic Party immediately issued a statement demanding his resignation.
The Chungnam Democratic Party said, "For the past two years, Asan city administration has been repeatedly disrupted by Mayor Park's dogmatism, unilateral actions, and ongoing trials. He has become a symbol of poor communication, forcing Asan citizens to bear the inconvenience," and emphasized, "If Mayor Park feels even a shred of responsibility for the administrative vacuum and confusion he has caused, resigning immediately is the basic duty of a public official."
They continued, "We strongly urge Park Kyunggui of the People Power Party to resign immediately, and we ask the Supreme Court to reach a swift conclusion so that a by-election can be held in October."
The Asan Citizens' Solidarity also issued a statement on the 10th, demanding Mayor Park's voluntary resignation. The group said, "During the two years of Park Kyunggui's 8th popularly elected term, there have been no significant policies for citizens' happiness, and despite the risk of losing his position due to election law violations, his one-sided administration without communication has only increased citizens' anxiety. Mayor Park should stop clinging to his position, and voluntary resignation is the only way to relieve citizens' anxiety as they await the Supreme Court's decision."
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