Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, posted a photo on social networking service (SNS) on the 18th showing former Presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee in the background, with President Yoon Seok-yeol and himself side by side, along with the caption "I want to see Your Excellency." Using a homonym, it appears he is urging the Constitutional Court to dismiss President Yoon's impeachment trial.
Earlier, on the 12th, Governor Lee also posted on SNS, "Let's start a campaign to call President Yoon Seok-yeol 'Your Excellency'," but later deleted it. At that time, he said, "I hope that the sincere wish of the people to have the impeachment dismissed will become a national request by carrying out a campaign to call President Yoon Seok-yeol 'Your Excellency,' which sounds the same but has a different meaning."
Accordingly, Governor Lee's phrase "I want to see Your Excellency" may seem at first glance to mean he wants to see President Yoon, but it is interpreted as expressing a hope that the homonym of 'Your Excellency' (閣下), meaning a high-ranking official, and 'dismissal' (却下) will be decided. 'Dismissal' refers to an administrative disposition rejecting an application to a state agency.
On the night of December 3 last year, President Yoon declared martial law and sent military forces to the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court. He is currently awaiting the impeachment ruling at the Constitutional Court. If the impeachment is upheld, President Yoon will be immediately removed from office. If the impeachment is dismissed or dismissed due to procedural issues, he will return to his duties.
In political circles, there is speculation that Governor Lee may challenge for the presidency if President Yoon loses his position.
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