Ruling Party Governors: "Yoon Should Step Back After Second Term... Form an Emergency National Unity Cabinet"

"Avoiding Only the Impeachment of the President"

Yonhap News

Provincial governors affiliated with the People Power Party demanded that President Yoon Suk-yeol "step back to a secondary role" and form an "emergency national unity cabinet."

The People Power Party Governors' Council held an emergency meeting on the 6th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, and released a statement with these demands.

They stated, "We apologize with a repentant heart for today's political situation," but added, "However, impeachment of the president must be avoided. The suspension of the constitutional order must be prevented."

They continued by urging President Yoon to "form an emergency national unity cabinet led by a responsible prime minister and step back to a secondary role," and expressed hope that he would "clearly announce future political schedules, including a constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term."

Yoo Jeong-bok, mayor of Incheon and chairman of the Governors' Council, said, "I believe it is difficult for (President Yoon) to effectively carry out state affairs as president," and explained, "That is why we called for stepping back to a secondary role, forming an emergency national unity cabinet, and clarifying future plans."

Mayor Yoo added, "For the future of the Republic of Korea, it is appropriate for politics and national development to prevent extreme situations," and said, "We have already said that the president's declaration of martial law was wrong and that he should apologize and take responsibility; today, we talked about stepping back to a secondary role."

Regarding President Yoon's lack of any statement after declaring and lifting martial law, Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, said, "We gathered now to urge him to take a position." When asked about plans to meet with President Yoon, Mayor Hong bluntly said, "There are none."

The meeting was attended by eight people, including Mayor Yoo, Mayor Hong, Lee Jang-woo of Daejeon, Choi Min-ho of Sejong, Kim Jin-tae of Gangwon, Kim Tae-heum of Chungnam, and Kim Young-hwan of Chungbuk. Four other governors who did not attend the meeting also added their names to the statement.