Hong Jun-pyo Criticizes "The Heyday of Bad Guys... An Unprecedented Corruption Election by Criminals"

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Hong Jun-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, sharply criticized the competition between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, calling it an "unprecedented corrupt presidential election among criminal suspects."

On the 16th, Hong posted on his social media (SNS), "Every day, the ruling and opposition candidates, themselves and their families, are biting each other over corruption allegations in an unprecedented corrupt presidential election among criminal suspects."

He continued, "The policies of both ruling and opposition candidates are filled with populist promises without distinction, and now they have given up on establishing a new government different from the Moon administration, instead flooding the scene with patched-up pledges pandering to specific interest groups."

Regarding this presidential election, he lamented, "It has become an era of bad guys where we have to choose who is the less bad candidate rather than who is the better candidate," and said, "I spent today in despair, feeling some responsibility for creating this unprecedented corrupt presidential election where candidates, equally flawed, point fingers at each other."

He appealed, "Please stop now. Show us a future vision for the Republic of Korea filled with dreams and hope."

Meanwhile, allegations surrounding the families of the ruling and opposition presidential candidates have been emerging daily. On the 16th, Yoon addressed the controversy over his spouse Kim Geon-hee's false resume, stating, "I am always sorry to the people for falling short of the expectations."

On the same day, Lee bowed his head and apologized regarding his son's illegal gambling allegations, saying, "As a father, I bow my head and apologize together with my son to those who were disappointed by my son's disgraceful behavior."

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