When Institutional Politics Fail to Reflect Public Opinion,
Plaza Democracy Prevails
Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, urged President Yoon Seok-yeol to "actively work to reconcile left-right conflicts with the spirit of integration if the impeachment is dismissed."
On the 11th, Mayor Hong stated on Facebook, "If plaza democracy prevails, the country will head down a path of ruin like South America." He also said, "Plaza democracy tends to prevail when the institutional system fails to reflect public opinion," adding, "Former President MB (Lee Myung-bak) overcame the candlelight protests early in his administration precisely because he pursued left-right integration politics."
He continued, "At that time, as the ruling party's floor leader, I led left-right integration by reaching a consensus on the opening of the National Assembly despite severe conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties," and explained, "My appearance on MBC, a stronghold of the opposition, to debate the martial law situation at a 2-to-1 disadvantage was also to engage in dialogue, compromise, and communication with the left-wing camp."
Mayor Hong emphasized to President Yoon, "If you return as president, I sincerely hope you take this incident as a lesson and open the era of 'Great Korea' through left-right integration."
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