Hong Jun-pyo: "Forcing participation in the campaign committee is unfair tyranny... I will engage in youth politics"

Hong Jun-pyo "Leaving the presidential race to start youth politics... That's what must be done now"

Hong Jun-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting speech at the jp Hope Camp closing ceremony held on the 8th at the BNB Tower in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 19th, Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out, "It is wrong to criticize me for not participating in the election campaign committee (선대위) and serving quietly, and forcing participation in the campaign committee itself is an unjust tyranny." This appears to be a remark targeting party insiders, including Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who are urging participation in the campaign committee.

On the same day, Hong said in a post on his Facebook, "Now I am leaving the presidential election scene and starting a new youth politics. That is what I must do now without lingering around the next presidential election scene."

He said, "In July 2007, during the fierce competition in the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye presidential primary, when candidate Lee Myung-bak won, candidate Park Geun-hye accepted the defeat cleanly at the primary and did not appear in that presidential election afterward."

He continued, "It was a presidential election fought only by the pro-Lee faction (친이계) led by MB (former President Lee Myung-bak)," adding, "From candidate Park Geun-hye's standpoint, she strongly argued that MB should not become president, so she had no reason to ask people to elect him as president. (I am) the same." The pro-Lee faction refers to close aides of the former president Lee.

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 18th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Yoon Seok-youl, the current presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is pushing for Hong's joining the campaign committee. However, with Hong publicly stating on the same day that he will not join the campaign committee, the possibility of a 'one team' seems slim.

Regarding this, after being eliminated from the People Power Party presidential primary, Hong created an online platform called 'Youth's Dream' (청년의꿈). When a supporter asked, "What do you think if candidate Yoon becomes president?" he replied, "Only South Korea will become unhappy."

In response, Lee Jun-seok appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' the day before and said, "(Hong) expressed acceptance of the results, but it seems there are aftereffects following the election." He added, "Many citizens seem to think that since only about ten days have passed since the primary, we should wait a bit."

He said, "Hong is also a politician based on conservative supporters in the conservative camp," and "If Hong's position drags on too long, there is a risk of losing that (support base). I think Hong will find an appropriate line."

Regarding reports that Hong is not responding to candidate Yoon's calls, he said, "Even though the (Yoon) candidate continues to make efforts, if Hong acts like that, public opinion may turn unfavorable toward Hong," emphasizing, "The candidate must make every effort, and Hong must also respond accordingly."

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