"Strong Support for Martial Law" Backlash Against Pressure for Resignation of Park Jong-cheol, Busan City Council Member

SNS: "Respect for President Yoon Seok-yeol's Decision"
Civic Group: "He Should Be Referred to the Ethics Committee for Discipline"

A Busan city council member affiliated with the People Power Party has sparked controversy by posting a message actively supporting President Yoon Suk-yeol's decision to declare martial law.

Park Jong-cheol, a People Power Party city council member, stated on his social media around 11:16 PM on the 3rd, shortly after the declaration of martial law, "I actively support and sympathize with the President's declaration of martial law and believe we must eradicate pro-North Korean spy forces and prevent administrative paralysis to protect the free Republic of Korea."

Councilman Park added, "Despite family bereavement, I ask for understanding and will travel to Seoul tomorrow to participate," and "I will actively join with a patriotic will and once again pay my respects to President Yoon Suk-yeol's decision."

A post by Busan City Councilor Park Jong-cheol on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News.

After the martial law was lifted, around 8 AM on the 4th, Park posted an additional message saying, "It is frustrating that a six-hour incident unknown to key aides and the ruling party leadership ended with the lifting of martial law, returning everything to normal," and "Every man for himself is self-destruction. We must unite our strength and wisdom." The post has since been deleted.

However, local civic groups are pressuring Councilman Park to resign. The Busan Citizens' Movement Solidarity issued a statement that said, "The unanimous passage of the National Assembly's resolution demanding the lifting of martial law is a victory for the people's will and democracy," and "As a city council member who should represent the will of Busan citizens, Park Jong-cheol, who made remarks disregarding democracy and human rights, must resign with patriotic will."

The Preparatory Committee for the Yoon Suk-yeol Resignation Busan Movement Headquarters also urged in a statement that day, "The People Power Party Busan branch and Busan City Council must refer Park Jong-cheol to the Ethics Committee and strongly discipline him so that an anti-constitutional and anti-democratic person cannot be a member of the city council."