Hong Jun-pyo: "Moon, Stop Election Manipulation and Quietly Step Down"

People Power Party presidential primary candidate Hong Joon-pyo is holding an urgent press conference on the morning of the 3rd at the Yeouido campaign office in Seoul, calling for the cessation of government-led elections and a special investigation into Lee Jae-myung's Daejang-dong corruption scandal. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, simultaneously targeted President Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung, the final candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea. In particular, he warned President Moon to "just quietly step down."

On the 3rd, Hong held a press conference at his campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "The Moon Jae-in administration must immediately stop its total election manipulation," and added, "The people will never forgive the current administration's denial of popular sovereignty and anti-democratic behavior."

First, he called for a special prosecutor investigation into the 'Lee Jae-myung Daejang-dong case.' Hong said, "'Lee Jae-myung - Yoo Dong-gyu - Kim Man-bae' are a criminal community sharing mutual interests," and emphasized, "The prosecution is only cutting off the limbs like Yoo Dong-gyu and Kim Man-bae, but has not even investigated the head, candidate Lee. This tail-cutting investigation cannot be entrusted to such prosecution. I reiterate that a special prosecutor must be accepted immediately and a fair investigation conducted."

Hong also demanded the immediate suspension of the so-called 'Lee Jae-myung budget' and 'Lee Jae-myung support funds.' He criticized, "In next year's budget review, the Democratic Party is preparing a budget for candidate Lee's election," and said, "Including basic series or other pledge budgets for a candidate who is not even the president in next year's main budget completely violates democratic procedures and budget accounting principles."

He continued, "In an era of 1,000 trillion won national debt and at the point of transitioning to 'With COVID-19,' disaster relief funds to be paid right before next year's presidential election are nothing but election bribery," and pointed out, "Executive power must remain neutral in the presidential election. National budgets, executive departments, and government policies must strictly maintain neutrality."

He then demanded the formation of a 'neutral election cabinet.' Hong said, "Looking at the Moon administration's cabinet, all key ministers who could influence the election, including the Prime Minister, National Intelligence Service Director, Minister of Justice, and Minister of the Interior and Safety, are all politicians from the ruling party," and stated, "Democracy is only preserved when its fairness and legitimacy are guaranteed both substantively and procedurally. Immediately form a neutral election cabinet and declare strict neutrality."

Finally, Hong raised his voice to President Moon, saying, "It is political propriety not to drive in the final nail that burdens the next government on the way out at the end of your term," and urged, "Just quietly step down."

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