Yoon Seok-yeol: "Had no choice but to choose People Power Party as I couldn't join the Democratic Party"... Hong Joon-pyo: "Blaming the party"

Yoon Seok-yeol: "Democratization Movement Captivated by Foreign Imported Ideologies"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, and Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 23rd, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, sparked controversy by stating, "I inevitably chose the People Power Party because I cannot join the Democratic Party for regime change." In response, Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo voiced criticism.

On the same day, posts criticizing Yoon's gaffe were continuously uploaded on the 'Youth's Dream' online platform operated by Assemblyman Hong, specifically in the Q&A corner titled 'Hong Answers Youth's Concerns.'

One netizen targeted Yoon, saying, "One blunder a day, impressive. Is this really correct?" and criticized, "Today at the Jeonnam election committee launch ceremony, he said, 'Regime change must happen, but I cannot join the Democratic Party, so I inevitably came to the People Power Party.' Should we entrust this person with the presidential candidacy?"

Assemblyman Hong responded, "In a situation where in-law family corruption is a decisive factor, to still be unable to wake up from a delusion and blame the party is disappointing," he pointed out.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is inspecting the container terminal facilities during his visit to Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority in Gwangyang City, Jeollanam-do, on the afternoon of the 23rd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, at the Jeonnam election committee launch ceremony held in Suncheon, Jeonnam, candidate Yoon said, "Because the People Power Party has not done well so far, our Honam people have not opened their hearts to the People Power Party and have not supported it. I fully understand that," adding, "I also must change this regime, and since I cannot join the Democratic Party, I inevitably chose the People Power Party."

He also mentioned the 1980s democratization movement, claiming about the Moon Jae-in administration, "Many people participated in the democratization movement in the 1980s, but it was not a democratization movement based on the spirit of liberal democracy; rather, it was a movement influenced by ideologies imported from abroad, walking the same path as those who were captivated by such ideologies," which sparked controversy.

In response, one netizen said, "It seems the way to maintain approval ratings is for candidate Yoon to keep his mouth shut even for a day," and added, "Replacing the candidate is the answer." Assemblyman Hong indirectly criticized by saying, "Whenever he opens his mouth..."

Another netizen asked, "The daily parade of one blunder a day without fail, isn't this something one must be born with? It's not easy to consistently make blunders every single day. What is Assemblyman Hong's judgment on this?" Assemblyman Hong replied briefly, "I live by my own style."

Meanwhile, as the controversy grew, candidate Yoon later met with reporters and clarified, "I did not mean that the democratization movement was imported, but that the movement based on ideologies imported from abroad ended up walking the same path as the democratization movement."

He continued, "At that time, ideological struggles shared the same goals as the democratization movement, so they were socially accepted," adding, "Even after civilian rule, our society was often held back by activists obsessed with ideology."

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