On the 9th, Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo said he published a book titled "Opening the Era of the 7th Republic as a Sunjin Country," which contains his national philosophy based on constitutional amendment and nuclear armament.
This is interpreted as being related to his resignation from the mayor's office on the 11th and his full-fledged preparation for the presidential election.
He argued in the book for a presidential power structure based on a four-year term system, a president and vice president system, a bicameral National Assembly, and the introduction of a runoff system for presidential elections.
He suggested that through the upcoming June presidential election, the 21st president would be elected and discussions on constitutional amendment would begin immediately, proposing that the constitutional amendment referendum coincide with the 2026 local elections. He also stated that under a new constitution, a total election for the bicameral National Assembly would be held in 2028, and a four-year term president would be elected in 2030 to complete the establishment of the 7th Republic.
Economically, Mayor Hong believes that the 7th Republic is a country that entered advanced status based on the principles of "freedom and creativity," guaranteeing the freedom of markets and corporations, and achieving this through the dismantling of regulations and private-led innovation. He emphasized the importance of technology-led growth with a significant gap, productive welfare that creates jobs and opportunities, and the advancement of labor that shares outcomes based on productivity.
In the areas of diplomacy and security, he presented a security strategy through "nuclear balance policy" and "nuclear armament theory." He emphasized the strategic strengthening of the Korea-U.S. alliance based on nuclear balance, particularly through the concept of the "Korea-U.S. New Defense System." He also proposed building a "strategic economic partnership" to expand economic cooperation with the United States and jointly explore global markets.
He expressed his determination to do "the hard work even if it means facing criticism" like King Yongzheng, who stabilized the country by dealing with the chaos shortly after the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty or executed strategies to purge vested interests and usher in the golden age of the Qing dynasty.