Hong Joon-pyo "Lee Jun-seok = Maximus? Maximus is not petty... He should restrain himself"

"Betraying Fellow Group to Save Oneself... No More Comedy" Criticism by Former Representative Lee

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yunjin] On the 23rd, Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, directly criticized former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who compared the conflict between himself and the party to the movie "Gladiator," saying, "I hope he stops now."

On the 23rd, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "Maximus burned his own body in devotion to his homeland Rome. Maximus was neither petty nor miserable; he saved Rome with his death and gave freedom to his fellow gladiators."

This was a remark aimed at former leader Lee, who the previous day likened his situation to Maximus, the protagonist of the movie "Gladiator," during a broadcast.

On the 22nd, former leader Lee appeared on MBN's "Pandora" and, when asked by the host, "If they open the way for you to return as party leader, would you accept it?" he replied, "I don't understand why that would be a negotiation proposal," referencing the movie "Gladiator."

He said, "(In the movie) the emperor himself has no choice but to fight the popular gladiator to suppress the public's enthusiasm for him. Since the emperor lacks confidence, he stabs gladiator Maximus in the side with a sword before the duel begins."

He continued, "If they open the opportunity for me to run in the party convention and propose a compromise, something will appear around November to stab me in the side again and start. They will create a situation where running in the convention is meaningless."

In the movie "Gladiator," General Maximus loses his family due to the conspiracy of Commodus, who killed his biological father, the emperor, and took the throne. Maximus becomes a gladiator but ultimately succeeds in revenge. By comparing himself to Maximus, former leader Lee implied that even if the opportunity to run in the party convention opens, he will fall victim to the strategies of President Yoon and the "Yoon core group" (key associates of President Yoon).

In response, Mayor Hong pointed out, "Maximus did not commit the despicable act of betraying his comrades to save himself. If this continues, it will become a comedy." This was a criticism of former leader Lee, who has been attacking the party and government through repeated media interviews while likening himself to Maximus.

Mayor Hong also requested "putting the party before oneself" from former leader Lee through Facebook posts on the 15th and 19th. He criticized, "It is truly pitiful to see him still throwing tantrums and spewing harsh words, mistaking the situation for one from a year ago," and warned, "The Yoon administration is a newly started government. Give up small gains for the greater cause."

Meanwhile, former leader Lee, who filed an injunction to suspend the operation of the People Power Party Emergency Committee, has been focusing on a public opinion campaign against the party since a press conference on the 13th. The Seoul Southern District Court is expected to announce its decision on the injunction application sometime next week.

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