Kim Geun-sik: "Hong Jun-pyo, Stop Internal Criticism and Attack the Ruling Party... This Is Why I Oppose Rejoining"

"Requested Leading by Example, but Ended Up Causing Trouble"

Kim Geun-sik, Professor at Gyeongnam University and Chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong District Committee in Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Professor Kim Geunsik of Gyeongnam National University, chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee in Seoul, recently urged Rep. Hong Joonpyo, who rejoined the party, to "stop internal bickering and focus firepower on attacking the Democratic Party." Previously, Rep. Hong had repeatedly criticized opposition presidential candidates such as Rep. Yoon Heesook and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol.

On the 4th, Professor Kim wrote on his Facebook, "Use Rep. Hong's unique rhetoric to hit Lee Jae-myung and Choo Mi-ae. I ask you to do so."

He continued, "You criticized Yoon Seokyeol's wife's press conference as a fatal mistake, criticized Yoon's excessive investigation, which ended up benefiting Cho Kuk, and then mocked Rep. Yoon Heesook's presidential bid by saying even a mudfish jumps when a mullet jumps," adding, "This is why I opposed Rep. Hong's rejoining the party."

He further pointed out, "I requested 'eldest son's' strict leadership, not 'eldest brother's' exemplary and inclusive leadership, but in the end, he caused trouble," and "When the mistake in the group chat room became known, he made a ridiculous excuse that it was said to a Democratic Party candidate, not Rep. Yoon, and even left the chat room."

Professor Kim said, "This is not like Hong Joonpyo," and "If you make a mistake, you should admit it cleanly and apologize coolly?that's what suits Hong Joonpyo."

He added, "In the end, because of Rep. Hong, our party is getting criticized," and scolded, "The embarrassment of the fish market is caused by the little squid."

Hong Jun-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, is giving a lecture on the theme "The Road to a Normal Country" at the People Power Party's first-term lawmakers' meeting called "Myeongbulheojeon Conservative" held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 30th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 24th of last month when Rep. Hong's rejoining was decided, he entered the People Power Party's group chat for lawmakers and, after seeing the news that first-term lawmaker Rep. Yoon had expressed her intention to run for president, reportedly left a message saying, "When the mullet jumps, even the mudfish jumps."

At that time, Rep. Kim Woong of the same party reportedly asked a question along the lines of "Who is the mullet and who is the mudfish?" Rep. Hong then immediately deleted the message and left the chat room, and Rep. Kim criticized him with the implication, "Can't you even encourage a junior who is running?"

Rep. Hong has also strongly criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol, a leading opposition presidential candidate.

In an interview with 'Hankyoreh' on the 2nd, he evaluated Yoon as "the strongest prosecution since liberation," and claimed, "Recently, Yoon has been accused in more than twenty cases, and his wife and mother-in-law are all implicated. It's self-inflicted."

He added, "When he was investigating deep-rooted evils and Cho Kuk, he conducted strong investigations, but now regarding investigations into his own family, he says 'It's not me'?he shouldn't do that," and criticized, "He must overcome this himself and move forward."

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