Oh Se-hoon, Switches from Opposing to Supporting Impeachment
Hong Jun-pyo Targets Yoon Seok-yeol, Han Dong-hoon, and Lee Jae-myung
"Public Opinion Wishes They All Would Disappear"
Ahn Cheol-soo Votes in Favor of Special Investigation on Rebellion
President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a national address on the 12th, while Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu; and Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, all considered potential presidential candidates within the ruling party, began to unleash harsh criticism. Oh and Hong, who had previously taken a cautious stance on impeaching President Yoon, each cited impeachment and public sentiment respectively, while Ahn, who had expressed support, accused President Yoon of "sophistry." This is interpreted as a warm-up in response to the increasing number of defections within the People Power Party and the opening of the possibility of an early presidential election.
President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment motion was defeated due to a lack of quorum caused by the collective abstention of People Power Party lawmakers. On the 10th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the first Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
On the same day, Mayor Oh posted on Facebook under the title "The Future of the Republic of Korea is the Criterion for Judgment," stating, "Based on the facts revealed so far, impeachment proceedings should be initiated to undergo legal judgment," and argued, "That decision should be made as the party's official stance." He also emphasized, "The party must be united in the face of such a national issue. We must not be divided," and added, "We must go beyond party interests and use the future of the Republic of Korea as the criterion for judgment because the stability and prosperity of the country are more important than the party's future."
This marks a shift from opposing impeachment to supporting it. Mayor Oh had opposed the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon, which saw military forces attempting to enter the National Assembly in the early hours of the 4th, stating, "I oppose martial law. Martial law must be withdrawn." However, on the 6th, he expressed the view that "impeachment is not the only solution." At that time, Mayor Oh argued, "As a responsible ruling party, what we must do now is to alleviate public anxiety and manage state affairs," and insisted, "For national stability, we should transition to a responsible prime minister system and form an emergency management cabinet."
At the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport Investment Briefing held on the 20th at the Fairmont Hotel in Seoul, Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, is delivering a greeting regarding the new airport plan. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@
Mayor Hong, who had previously demanded the resignation of Party Leader Han but refrained from harsh criticism of President Yoon, also posted on Facebook that day, saying, "Regardless of right or wrong, public sentiment is formidable," and "Even if the purpose is legitimate, if the means lack proportionality, the policy will not succeed." He also mentioned President Yoon, People Power Party Leader Han Dong-hoon, and Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung, stating, "Aren't all three in a hostile symbiotic relationship? Public opinion says it would be better if all of them disappeared," targeting them with criticism.
Leader Hong said on the 7th, immediately after the impeachment motion against President Yoon was dismissed due to insufficient votes, "It is truly fortunate that the impeachment was rejected." The day before, he had commented on President Yoon's emergency martial law, saying, "It seems difficult to escape charges of abuse of power, but the framing of treason appears to be a conspiratorial scheme by Leader Lee Jae-myung, who is running out of time due to judicial risks, to push for an early presidential election by making impeachment succeed."
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, is sitting alone among ruling party members on the 7th at the National Assembly ahead of the vote on the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Ahn Cheol-soo, who attended the impeachment vote, raised his level of criticism even further. Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly that day, Ahn fiercely attacked President Yoon, saying, "Are you trying to fight the people? It only sounds like sophistry to shift responsibility."
Ahn also voted in favor of the "Special Prosecutor Appointment Act for the Truth Investigation of the Unconstitutional Emergency Martial Law Declaration and Treasonous Acts by the Yoon Suk-yeol Government (General Treason Special Prosecutor)" passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly that day, and hinted that he would support the second impeachment motion against President Yoon, which is expected to be submitted on the 14th.
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