Hong Joon-pyo "Dream of running for president still alive... The biggest cause of defeat in the presidential election is 'Makcheon'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Hong Joon-pyo, former Saenuri Party leader who was elected as an independent candidate in Daegu Suseong, stated that his intention to run for president remains firm. He also expressed that he would not challenge the party leadership unless the party constitution, which stipulates the separation of presidential and party leadership, is amended. He criticized former nomination committee chairman Kim Hyung-oh for the defeat in the last election, calling it a 'reckless nomination,' and said that Kim Jong-in, the general election committee chairman, is suitable for the position of emergency committee chairman in the upcoming emergency committee system.

On the 17th, Hong appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "(The presidency) is my last dream, and the reason I ran in Suseong was also my last dream and starting point toward 2022."

Regarding the criticism that the possibility of the presidential election has diminished due to the ruling party losing the general election and the opposition gaining a majority, he said, "That’s a comment made without understanding the political paradigm well. In 1996, DJ (former President Kim Dae-jung) became president with 83 seats. The number of parliamentary seats is not a factor that determines the presidential election. Lee Hoi-chang, who was the Grand National Party leader, ran twice as candidate number one and failed both times."

When asked about rejoining the party, he expressed displeasure, saying, "I consider that a rude and unpleasant question. I don’t want to argue with petty people."

He found the question about the possibility of rejoining the party itself unpleasant and rude, especially as he is considered a 'party veteran.' Hong said, "This is a party I have never left for 25 years. To avoid leaving the party, I even moved my constituency to Yangsan to propose a compromise," adding, "How can newcomers come in and take over the party’s main room and try to drive out the owner when I have protected the party for 25 years?"

Regarding the theory of challenging party leadership after rejoining, he replied, "The separation of party leadership and presidential candidacy is clearly stated in the party constitution now," adding, "Anyone running for president cannot hold party leadership from September. Unless that clause is amended, one cannot challenge the party leadership."

There is also an opinion to form a parliamentary negotiation group and gain another party, considering the satellite party Future Korea Party obtained 19 seats. However, Hong criticized this as "a foolish idea," saying, "Even if we unite now, it is difficult to oppose the ruling party with a huge majority, and trying to split again just to gain power in a small party is a foolish idea. It’s an idea that would ruin the entire party."

He cited nominations as the reason for the party’s defeat in the general election. He said, "The main cause of the election defeat was reckless nominations. How can we ask the public to vote for these people?" adding, "There was no consistent message from the leadership to the party. The election was conducted in a confused and chaotic manner, so how could the public trust and vote for this party?"

As a representative example of the party’s failure to deliver a consistent message, he pointed to the handling of the 'controversial remarks' by lawmakers Cha Myung-jin and Kim Dae-ho. Hong said, "The way the party handled these two incidents was very wrong and became a cause that ruined the entire election," adding, "It was against the party’s opinion. It should have been cut off by saying it’s a matter for the local residents of Gwanak Gap or Bupyeong, Bucheon to judge."

He also criticized the process by which former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn was pushed to run in Jongno District. He said, "The process of the party leader going to Jongno was not voluntary but forced, wasn’t it?" adding, "The nomination was reversed and changed until the candidate registration day. How could the public trust that?"

He saw the transition to an emergency committee system as inevitable. Hong said, "First, since the leadership has collapsed, it is right to move to an emergency committee system. A party convention before July is physically impossible," adding, "It is right to first settle the party through the emergency committee system and then proceed with the party convention process."

He said, "There is no suitable candidate for emergency committee chairman within us," adding, "As a last resort, I think it would be good if General Election Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in comes. He has charisma, long political experience, and experience in managing chaos in both the Democratic Party and our party."

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