Hong Joon-pyo "I have no grudges from the presidential primary... but the government should not be shaken"

"Cheon Ha-ram: Ahn Cheol-soo Set the Wrong Direction"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, who competed with President Yoon Seok-yeol for first and second place in the 2021 presidential primary, recently diagnosed the conflict between the pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon factions at the People Power Party's national convention as "the lingering resentment from the last presidential election." He criticized candidates Cheon Ha-ram and Ahn Cheol-soo for "setting the wrong direction."

On the 23rd, on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs,' Mayor Hong said, "In a way, I should be the one with the most resentment from the presidential primary, but I don't have such thoughts. However, we worked hard to establish the government, so shaking the current administration with lingering resentment is not right."

Mayor Hong competed against President Yoon in the 2021 People Power Party presidential primary, receiving 41.50% of the votes but losing to Yoon, who received 47.85%. During this primary, negative campaigning such as revealing each other's 'list of gaffes' was not uncommon.

He said, "If there were any resentment divided between pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon factions, I should be the one with the most. After all, we fought the fiercest, and public opinion showed I was ahead by more than 10%. Still, I don't have such thoughts," adding, "Pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon factions are mixed and slandering each other, but is that what the public, especially our party's supporters, want? Perhaps now is the time for everyone to become pro-Yoon."

He emphasized the need to resolve the resentment from the presidential primary and support the president first. Regarding candidate Cheon Ha-ram, who advocates 'anti-Yoon,' and candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, who holds an ambiguous position between pro-Yoon and anti-Yoon, he said, "They set the wrong direction," and pointed out, "The reason they are temporarily gaining popularity in public opinion is because the president's approval rating is not overwhelming."

Although public support is high, within the party, 'Yoon's support' is overwhelming. He said, "The president's approval rating among the public is not 60% or 70%, so such phenomena (surges in support) occur," adding, "However, from the party's perspective, responsible party members have regained power after five years of hardship, and most think we should unite and support the Yoon Seok-yeol government."

He argued that a party leader who actively supports President Yoon is necessary. Mayor Hong said, "If we don't do that, will this administration be maintained? This administration originally has no base in Yeouido. This administration is trying to establish a political base in Yeouido through this national convention."

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