Hong Jun-pyo Courts Honam... "People Power Party Must Sever Ties with 5·18 Suppression Forces"

People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo is paying respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City on the morning of the 20th. Photo by Jo Hyung-ju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, visited Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 20th and stated, "(The People Power Party) has already severed ties with the forces that suppressed the May 18 Democratic Movement."

On the afternoon of the same day, Hong held a press conference at the Gwangju City Council and said, "The party's approval rating is almost in the single digits (in Honam), and the reason is deeply rooted in the perception that 'this party was created by the descendants of the forces that suppressed the May 18 Democratic Movement.'

Hong said, "Even after severing ties, sometimes some party members make inappropriate remarks, which has nullified those efforts. There will be no such incidents going forward."

He continued, "Now, please open your hearts and embrace us. I hope you will soften your hearts," and appealed for support by saying, "Look at the person rather than the party, and judge whether this person truly has the qualities and capabilities to lead the beginning of South Korea's advanced era."

Regarding his competitor, candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, he said, "If I respond, the article will portray it as criticism of a junior. I have decided not to respond from today," but explained, "The primary election is a different matter. The primary starts aggressively, and as mutual debates, morality checks, and policy verifications proceed, the public's judgment changes significantly."

He then directly criticized, "If you are afraid of debates and lack confidence in them, you should withdraw. I've been in politics for 26 years, and this is the first time I've seen someone ask to be endorsed without debating."

Regarding Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party’s leading presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, he criticized him as a "populist" and pointed out, "We are now in an era of 1,000 trillion won national debt, yet he is proposing a basic income series that has never been attempted anywhere in the world, trying to ruin the national finances."

Hong proposed the 'Four Major Gateway Airports Theory,' saying, "Honam has Muan International Airport. We need to expand the runway and improve facilities to create an era where one can fly directly from Muan to Europe and the Americas," suggesting that Muan Airport be integrated with Gwangju Airport and developed as a key Honam hub airport.

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