Hong Joon-pyo: "I Have Never Left the Party in 26 Years... Will Not Tolerate Fair-weather Members"

People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo is answering questions during a press conference at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council on the 26th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, stated, "I am the legitimate heir of this party, having never left it even once in 26 years."

On the 29th, Hong wrote on his Facebook, "This morning, while watching a cable news channel by chance, I saw a columnist criticize the 'traitor frame' I set up, saying, 'Didn't you also betray the party and run as an independent in the last general election?' This was a rebuttal that made me seriously question their judgment," he criticized.

He added, "Everyone knows that the last general election was a total defeat due to reckless candidate nominations, but some party leaders made nominations to eliminate competitors, which was legitimate. Yet, to treat me, who survived alone in a party-stronghold district for 29 days in protest, as a traitor is truly absurd," he condemned.

He continued, "I will no longer tolerate transient peddlers taking over and manipulating the party," and said, "The phrase sangjagigu (喪家之狗) is not a slur but a kind of humor found in Kim Satgat's works," adding, "If one cannot distinguish between humor and slander, how can they be called an intellectual?"

Earlier, on the 27th, Hong said, "I have always respected political convictions and differences that cause splits, but betraying trust for small immediate gains, swaying like a willow in the wind, is an unforgivable shamelessness," raising his voice, "Those who have betrayed once will betray again. Betrayal begets betrayal and ultimately leads to ruin."

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