Hong Jun-pyo: "Conservatives support Lee, progressives support Yoon... Truly a dirty, messy presidential election"

"No Ideology and a Spectacle of Opportunistic Alliances"

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the "dirty presidential election," targeting declarations of "ideology-transcending support from both progressive and conservative camps."

On the 2nd, Hong posted on his social media (SNS), "The presidential election scene is truly chaotic. There is no ideology, and the shifting alliances are quite a spectacle."

He pointed out, "It is abnormal to see conservative right-wing people supporting candidate Lee Jae-myung, and progressive left-wing people supporting candidate Yoon Seok-youl."

He added, "No matter how messy the presidential election is, this is unacceptable. I hope it ends as soon as possible."

Previously, Pyo Cheol-soo, former Vice Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission who supported Hong, announced on the 1st that he joined the Democratic Party's presidential campaign as head of the media innovation special advisory group. Additionally, Gu Sang-yong, the Busan representative of Hong Joon-pyo supporters, and Kim Young-jae, a former youth special advisor to Hong’s campaign, also declared their support for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate.

In response, the People Power Party stated, "Among the approximately 20,000 (Hong Sarang) supporters from 100 nationwide organizations who supported Hong Joon-pyo during the party’s presidential primary, only a very small number recently declared support for candidate Lee Jae-myung. This was done based on personal and political interests and has no relation whatsoever to Hong Joon-pyo."

Also, Park Geun-hye’s sister, Park Geun-ryeong, former director of the Yuk Young Foundation, declared her support for Lee Jae-myung, saying, "Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is the only candidate who can resolve the issue of peaceful unification."

On the other hand, the pro-Moon Jae-in faction’s "Known Awake Citizens Solidarity Party (Kkaesiyon)" declared support for Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, the day before.

Furthermore, some members within "NY Sarang," a group of pro-Lee Nak-yeon party members in the Democratic Party, reportedly plan to campaign for "Number 2 this time." Jeong Un-hyun, former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and a close aide to former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, expressed support for candidate Yoon on the 21st of last month, saying, "I would choose a plant president over a monster president." Jeong also served as the public relations director for Lee Nak-yeon’s presidential primary campaign.

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