Hong Joon-pyo: "Doubtful if By-election Can Be Won Due to People Power Party's Mismanagement"

"Despite TK Approval Rating Overtake, Leisurely Begging for Votes in Honam... Truly a Spectacle"

On the morning of the 16th of last month, at the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit of the Army Headquarters held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, independent lawmaker Hong Jun-pyo is questioning. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo strongly criticized the People Power Party leadership, saying, "Despite the disastrous governance that is causing the loose support base and the party organizations in Seoul to collapse, it is truly questionable whether we can win," targeting the party leadership.

On the 3rd, Hong posted on his Facebook, "The Seoul and Busan mayoral elections are unusual. Due to the nature of the by-elections, voter turnout is very low, so only the passionate supporters go to the polls," he said.

He added, "Considering the turnout is less than 40%, the Democratic Party, which holds 24 district heads and over 80% of local councilors, will conduct an overwhelming organizational and government-influenced election," he predicted.

Hong said, "Moreover, Chairman Kim Jong-in has already disparaged all our party candidates, so it is obvious that whichever candidate is chosen, it will be a candidacy full of wounds," and questioned, "Even so, how can our supporters accept such narrow-minded, petty politics where we split and exclude each other without any countermeasures?"

He continued, "The Busan organization has also largely collapsed, and soon they will announce the Gadeokdo New Airport, the biggest long-cherished wish of the Busan region. How can we overcome that as a breakthrough measure?" He added, "In Busan, where the Taegeukgi faction is strongest, Jeong Gyu-jae, editor-in-chief of Pan & Mike, is trying to run. Kim Jong-in looks down on Busan, where anyone who runs gets votes, pressures first-term lawmakers to run, excludes other senior or multiple-term lawmakers, and claims there is no suitable candidate for Busan mayor. Even Busan people are seriously angry."

He further stated, "Yesterday, in TK, our party's largest support region, an unprecedented situation occurred where the Democratic Party led with 34% and our party had 30%, yet they leisurely went to Honam, where there is no by-election, to beg for votes. It was truly a spectacle," and criticized, "When I went to Daegu yesterday, people unanimously said, 'Floor leader Joo Ho-young is probably going to run in Gwangju in the next general election.'

Hong said, "Even if we rush to Honam, will the Honam residents in Seoul immediately return to our party during the by-election?" He added, "Chairman Kim Jong-in can just leave, but those of us who have protected this party will once again walk the path of hardship. Our supporters are crying out, 'Why is the opposition party like this?'"

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