Hong Jun-pyo "100% Acceptance Before Yoon's Release, Changed After Release... Confused"

Hong Junpyo Appears on Economic YouTube Channel Sampro TV
"Impeachment Trial is Unfair... Significant Procedural Problems"

Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, said, "If the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol is upheld and the next presidential election takes place, it is likely to be an election held amid a political civil war situation."

Mayor Hong appeared on the economic YouTube channel 'Sampro TV' on the 18th and said, "Talking about the presidential election is delicate. No one knows whether the impeachment (of President Yoon) will be dismissed or upheld," adding, "Before the president was released, it was 100% going to be upheld, but the atmosphere changed after his release. It is confusing."

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo appeared on the economic YouTube channel 'Sampro TV' on the 18th. Screenshot from YouTube channel Sampro TV 3PROTV.

He continued, "In the impeachment trial of Lee Jin-sook, the Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, the Constitutional Court's decision was split 4 to 4 between upholding and dismissing the impeachment," and said, "(The Constitutional Court justices) are composed of 4 moderate conservatives and 4 progressive liberals, but for the impeachment to be upheld, the vote must be 6 to 2. Two justices would have to side with dismissal, but since the president has been released, it could exert psychological pressure on the justices when making their decision."

Mayor Hong criticized the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial process of President Yoon as "unfair." He said, "According to Article 32 of the Constitutional Court Act, records from ongoing criminal trials cannot be requested for submission," adding, "However, some prosecution and police records were requested for submission. The justices must have made their decision, but there is a significant procedural problem."

He said, "I recently mentioned that if the impeachment motion is dismissed, great chaos will ensue, and if upheld, a political civil war situation will arise," adding, "No matter what conclusion is reached, the country will be in turmoil for a while."

Regarding measures to stabilize the political situation if the impeachment is dismissed, he said, "Drastic measures will have to be taken, and President Yoon will have plans upon his return."

When asked who bears greater responsibility in the national turmoil, Mayor Hong answered, "I believe both the opposition party and the president share responsibility." He referred to the 29 impeachment motions led by the opposition since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, saying, "It is a political outrage by the opposition coalition holding 192 seats. But the president should have resolved that issue politically."

Furthermore, when asked if the president refused to meet the opposition at all, he replied, "That is so-called prosecutor politics," and said, "He was the Prosecutor General and then was immediately elected president by the people. If a prosecutor acknowledges the opponent, could they send them to prison?"