Intensifying Yoon-Hong Conflict... Hong Joon-pyo "I Will Strip Party Branch Chiefs of Nomination Recommendation Rights"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] With six days remaining until the People Power Party's presidential primary, the level of rivalry between former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol and People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo is intensifying. After reports emerged that a party district chairman supporting Yoon was interfering with a support event organized by Hong's side, Hong threatened, "I have no intention of granting that district chairman the nomination recommendation rights for the local elections later."

On the 30th, after a policy announcement press conference at the presidential campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, Hong told reporters, "A district chairman managing the party district in such a manner is a wrong practice from 20 to 30 years ago. Just wait and see. Do you think I don't act against that?"

He then raised his palm and said, "Even if it seems like I don't know, I have all the party districts across the country in the palm of my hand," adding, "They are abusing the nomination recommendation rights for the local elections alone, so shouldn't such people be denied the nomination recommendation rights for next year's local elections?"

The day before, Hong's campaign planned to hold a candidate support rally in Pocheon in the afternoon, attended by former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung and former lawmaker Kim Seon-dong. However, according to a media report, after Hong's schedule was set, a current lawmaker affiliated with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign organized a party member event in the same area and issued a major party member "mobilization order."

Regarding this, Hong also emphasized on Facebook after the press conference, "If the reports about senior members of the opposing camp threatening district chairman lawmakers with nominations as bait are true, such people should be expelled from politics."

He added, "Now, please have some shame and behave like senior members," and questioned, "Aren't you ashamed in front of party members and the public?"

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