Kim Geun-sik: "Hong Joon-pyo differs in dignity from Choi Jae-hyung... If he keeps making rude remarks, his supporters will shift to Choi Jae-hyung"

Geun-sik Kim, former Director of Vision and Strategy Office of the People Power Party.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Former People Power Party Vision Strategy Office Chief Kim Geunsik predicted that People Power Party lawmaker Hong Junpyo, who has been continuously targeting Prosecutor General Yoon Seokyeol, will see his support base rapidly shift to former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung if he continues to incite division among supporters and make harsh criticisms.

On the 8th, Kim posted on his Facebook, "Even if criticizing competing candidates is the fate of intra-party primaries, it should not be done in a reckless manner like lawmaker Hong," criticizing him.

He raised his voice, saying, "Criticizing former Prosecutor General Yoon as 'the person responsible for the destruction of the conservative right' and saying 'Daegu-Gyeongbuk, which overwhelmingly supports the person who put former President Park in prison, is outrageous' is an act that provokes the emotions of conservative supporters and divides the party."

He continued, "There is a huge difference in dignity between former Chairman Choi, who differentiates himself from former Prosecutor General Yoon while being 'relatively free from political division,' and lawmaker Hong."

He added, "I am at a loss for words when lawmaker Hong mocks former Prosecutor General Yoon as a trained dolphin and Yoon's supporting lawmakers as 'lemmings.' There is no need to recall the memory of a Chungbuk provincial councilor who resigned years ago after comparing the public to lemmings."

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party (left), and Yoon Seok-youl, former Prosecutor General (right). [Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Chief Kim emphasized again, "Regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon's controversy over remarks, former Chairman Choi's politeness, who said 'he has a straightforward personality' and 'will gradually improve,' is in stark contrast."

He questioned, "Lawmaker Hong, whose support base overlaps with former Chairman Choi's as the original conservative, conservative heir, and Yeongnam region candidate. Harsh conservative versus dignified conservative. Rude conservative versus polite conservative. Divisive conservative versus unifying conservative. In such a clear contrast, who will the conservative supporters gather around?"

He argued, "The person who will be most anxious as former Chairman Choi's full-fledged campaign begins is lawmaker Hong himself. It does not seem easy for lawmaker Hong to change his habits. The shift of supporters to former Chairman Choi will rather help our party's primary turnout and competitiveness in the general election."

Earlier, on the 6th, lawmaker Hong sharply criticized at the 'Youth 4.0 Forum' held in Daegu, saying, "I don't understand how the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region (TK) got hooked on former Prosecutor General Yoon," and urged, "They need to come to their senses."

On the 8th, through his Facebook, he criticized, "Seeing someone who forcibly detained a former president, re-arrested him during trial, denied requests for suspension of sentence despite deteriorating health, now shamelessly lying that he tried to keep the former president out of custody during investigation makes me feel he has become a full-fledged politician."

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