Hong Jun-pyo "Pro-impeachment Evangelists Should Have Party Membership Suspended for 2 Years"

Hong Jun-pyo "Let's Quickly Start by Organizing the Party"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, resigned from his position as party leader on the 16th, while Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, emphasized, "Let's promptly reorganize the party first."

On the same day, Mayor Hong said on his Facebook, "Proportional representation lawmakers who shamelessly demand expulsion should have their party membership suspended for 3 years for violating party policy, and among the district lawmakers, those who acted as advocates for impeachment approval should have their party membership suspended for about 2 years to restore party discipline," expressing his opinion.

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News

He added, "The sooner, the better," and claimed, "During Park Geun-hye's impeachment, the shipwrecked lemmings were left unattended, which led to this disaster again." He continued, "We need to make it known that this was not a matter of conviction but merely the Democratic Party's second-string antics."

Earlier, on the 14th, Mayor Hong also stated on Facebook, "I regret the passage of the impeachment motion," and said, "The party leadership, which failed to properly respond to the emergency martial law situation caused by the opposition's oppressive parliamentary operation, should resign en masse."

He also said, "I am deeply dismayed by Han Dong-hoon and the lemmings who failed to control the 12 votes that switched to approval and who acted as the second-string of Lee Jae-myung," adding, "The 12 votes that supported the impeachment can be roughly guessed in the political circles." He continued, "Proportional representatives can be made invisible, but district lawmakers should be expelled," and said, "With 90 members, we can overcome the impeachment crisis."

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference to announce his resignation as party leader at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Meanwhile, Han held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day and announced, "With the resignation of the Supreme Council members, the Supreme Council has collapsed, making it impossible to perform normal duties as party leader," and declared, "I am stepping down from the party leader position." Han's resignation came 146 days after being elected as party leader at the July 23 party convention.

Han bowed and said, "I sincerely apologize to all the people who suffered from this emergency martial law situation." He also bowed again and said, "I am very sorry to our supporters who are heartbroken by the impeachment." He added, "Thinking of those feelings, I tried every possible way to find a better path for this country rather than impeachment, but ultimately failed," and said, "It is all because of my shortcomings. I am sorry."

Regarding his stance in favor of impeachment, Han said, "It is truly painful when I think of our supporters who are heartbroken, but I still do not regret it," and added, "Because I decided never to betray the Republic of Korea and its sovereign people no matter what happens."