[Yoon Suk-yeol Dismissal] Park Byungkyu, Gwangju Gwangsan District Mayor: "Restoring Democracy with the Light of the Square"

From Delusion and Hatred to the Values of Coexistence

Park Byungkyu, the head of Gwangsan District in Gwangju, issued a statement on the 4th, immediately after the impeachment verdict of President Yoon Sukyeol, saying, "This is a victory for the sovereign people, and now it is time to create a new democratic republic together through dialogue among citizens."

Byungkyu Park, Mayor of Gwangsan District.

In his statement, Park said, "The citizens who endured fierce snowstorms and the cold snap while calling for impeachment have won," and added, "I pay my respects to the sovereign people who have brought democracy back from the depths."

He continued, "The ringleader of the rebellion is still at large, and the true identities of the collaborators have not yet been revealed," calling for a thorough investigation and punishment of those involved in the December 3 martial law incident. He also stated, "Only when their responsibility is clearly held accountable can we return to normalcy and restore trust."

Park pointed out, "The December 3 rebellion was the result of the collapse of the conscience and common sense of the leadership," and added, "The monster born from a winner-takes-all competitive society has damaged democracy and thrown the people into confusion." He emphasized, "Punishment alone is not enough; true recovery requires social dialogue and institutional reform that begins with citizens' questions."

He said, "The approach of following predetermined answers has outlived its usefulness," and added, "We must work together to create a new system that can reconcile differences and build social consensus through collective intelligence and citizen participation."

Finally, Park said, "Let us build a new democratic republic with the light of the square and the power of attentive listening," and added, "Let us fill the space cleared of delusion and hatred with the values of reason and coexistence. With wise citizens, we can surely achieve this."