Hong Jun-pyo "The country is deeply divided... Worried whether impeachment is accepted or dismissed"

"Even the Constitutional Court Is Divided Left and Right...
A New Spirit of the Era Is Needed"

As the final hearing date for President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial approaches on the 13th, Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, expressed his feelings, saying, "The country is deeply divided, and whether the impeachment is accepted or dismissed, it is worrisome."

On the 10th, Mayor Hong posted on his Facebook, "I earnestly hope that the impeachment will be dismissed and President Yoon will return," adding, "It is time for us to calmly reflect on how to heal the national wounds."

Photo of Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo

He continued, "I hope the Constitutional Court will make a proper judgment based on strict constitutional logic, but now that even the court is divided left and right, whatever decision is made, it is highly likely that neither side will accept it, and South Korea could fall into greater chaos," emphasizing, "In this time when hatred and division are rampant, a new spirit of the era to unify is desperately needed."

Recently, large-scale rallies both supporting and opposing President Yoon's impeachment have been held across the country. On the 8th in Daegu, about 52,000 supporters of President Yoon gathered at the National Emergency Prayer Meeting hosted by the Protestant group Save Korea, while the National Student Council for Yoon Seok-yeol's Resignation held its 10th rally in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul, calling for the president's dismissal.

Lee Soon-sam, the spouse of Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, attended the anti-impeachment rally for President Yoon held in Daegu on the 8th. Lee Soon-sam's Instagram

Mayor Hong's spouse, Lee Soon-sam, also attended an anti-impeachment rally for President Yoon held in Daegu. On the 10th, Lee posted on her Instagram, "I attended the Save Korea National Emergency Prayer Meeting," sharing a photo with Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil. At this rally, Jeon took the stage to criticize the Democratic Party and the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court will hold the 7th and 8th hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial on the 11th and 13th, respectively. The 8th hearing on the 13th is currently scheduled as the final hearing, with no decision yet on additional sessions. If no further hearings are scheduled, it is expected that a conclusion on the impeachment will be reached by the end of this month or early next month.