Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul Urges Yoon's Immediate Resignation and Investigation

Revealing 'Position on the Current Situation' Through SNS

Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo City, called for President Yoon Seok-yeol's resignation in relation to the December 3 martial law incident, emphasizing the need for political cooperation to restore national governance and stabilize people’s livelihoods.

On the afternoon of the 9th, Mayor Park posted a statement titled "A Position on the Current Situation Addressed to the Citizens of Mokpo" on his SNS, stating, “In this grave situation where the emergency martial law has been declared and the emergency situation continues to unfold, political instability is intensifying. I urge President Yoon Seok-yeol to take full responsibility for all incidents and immediately step down.”

Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo.

He explained, “Regarding the declaration of martial law on the night of the 3rd, as an elected official hoping to alleviate citizens’ anxiety and restore national stability, I temporarily withheld my stance on the president’s resignation in order to uphold the legal obligation of political neutrality.”

However, he added, “Following President Yoon’s extra-constitutional address and the National Assembly’s rejection of impeachment, political turmoil has worsened, and concerns about the regional economy’s downturn have become a reality. Therefore, I believe that the only solution to uphold the will of the citizens and prevent the regression of democracy is President Yoon’s resignation.”

Netizens responded to Mayor Park’s delayed statement with over 70 comments and more than 150 likes, saying things like, “As an independent local government head without party affiliation and as an elected official, I fully understand the anguish and difficulties stemming from political neutrality. As a citizen of Mokpo and a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I welcome your heartfelt statement,” and “Although it is somewhat late, it is good that you have made this decision now.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Park, who did not sign the “Statement Urging President Yoon Seok-yeol’s Resignation” issued by the Jeonnam Mayors and Governors Council on the 5th, previously stated that this was to “maintain political neutrality.”