Hong Jun-pyo to Run as Independent in Daegu... "Will Enter Region Without Incumbent from United Party" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo will run as an independent candidate in Daegu in the April 15 general election.

He initially considered running as an independent in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, in protest against the cut-off (nomination exclusion) policy by Kim Hyung-o, the Future United Party's nomination committee chairman, but decided to move his constituency to Daegu. The districts mentioned include Daegu Suseong.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Hong held a press conference at his Yangsan election office and announced, "As of today, I am giving up my candidacy in Yangsan and withdrawing from the preliminary candidate status."

He stated, "After receiving a request from the party's nomination committee to run in a difficult district, I chose Yangsan, a difficult area in Busan and Gyeongnam (PK), and left my hometown of Miryang-Changnyeong two weeks ago, but was thwarted by a rigged nomination," and criticized, "The nomination committee deliberately excluded me, who had the highest chance of winning, from the primary."

Hong said, "I cannot accept or comply with the nomination exclusion due to rigging," adding, "Therefore, I considered running as an independent in Yangsan, but since that would help the opposing party's candidate, I decided to move to another district." He also targeted Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn and Chairman Kim, saying, "If the Future United Party candidate loses despite my withdrawal from Yangsan, the party leadership and the nomination committee chairman will be fully responsible," and added, "The party and history will hold them strictly accountable."

Hong's next choice is Daegu. At the press conference, he declared, "I will go to Daegu." However, regarding the district, he said, "The sentiment in the 12 districts is all the same. I have no choice but to choose a place where faces do not clash," and left room by saying, "It is difficult for me to run in districts where our party (Future United Party) incumbents are present."

Regarding the possibility of running in Suseong-gap, where Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum holds a seat, he said, "I have had a brotherly relationship with Representative Kim and Representative Joo Ho-young (who received the Future United Party nomination in this district) for 30 years," and drew a line by saying, "I cannot go there." When asked if Daegu is an easy district to win, he added, "If I get the Future United Party nomination, it would be easy with a 65% support rate, but if I don't get the nomination, it will be as difficult as Yangsan."

Regarding concerns that his independent run could lead to conservative division, Hong responded, "Then they should not have done such a thing (cut-off). Even if I win as an independent in Daegu, would I join the Democratic Party? Also, except for Suseong-gap, Daegu would not become Democratic even if I run as an independent, so what conservative division are you talking about?"

Hong's likely Daegu constituency is Suseong-eul. It is Representative Joo Ho-young's district, but Joo moved to Suseong-gap with the Future United Party nomination this time. Other districts mentioned include Daegu Buk-gu-eul, where Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ui-rak is incumbent, and districts where Future United Party lawmakers have declared they will not run.

Hong said, "This is the eighth time in 25 years that I am trying to go to Daegu," adding, "I will turn this into an opportunity for a turnaround. I even feel that those who gave me the rigged nomination actually gave me a good opportunity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.