The captured image of the public declaration issued by Catholic priests

A total of 1,466 Catholic priests, including five high-ranking clergy members, issued a declaration calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's resignation.

The statement, released on Nov. 28, criticized the president for failing in his constitutional duties and accused him of fostering division and undermining public trust.

The priests, including Archbishop Ok Hyun-jin of the Gwangju Archdiocese and four other bishops, said, "We are no longer surprised by what President Yoon does. We ask, how can a person act in such a manner?" They accused Yoon of being "a man of falsehoods, who denies what exists and claims what does not."

The declaration continued, "Unable to ignore the fierce outcry of the people, we join this public statement to demand his removal. President Yoon has failed to uphold the Constitution, protect the nation, promote peaceful unification, and enhance the welfare of the people. It is time to hold him accountable and declare his dismissal."

The priests went on to describe Yoon as "a man of violence" who governs recklessly without discerning what is good or bad for the people.

"He doesn't seem to know who he is or what he is doing, acting as a puppet of private interests who has handed over the authority entrusted to him by the people to others," they said. "He is a peculiar leader who fattens an already privileged few while driving everyone else into ruin."

The statement concluded with a call to action: "As sovereign citizens, we have not only the right to elect but also to remove. Let us act decisively before it's too late, exercising love and mercy to restore a sense of humanity."

The declaration, signed by priests and bishops across the country, marks a significant moment of collective dissent from the Catholic Church in South Korea. The president has not yet commented on the matter.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.