"Hong Joon-pyo, who said 'Even the country should meet Lee Jae-myung'... 'A summit meeting is difficult'"

"How to Meet Someone Charged with a Serious Crime"

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, who has faced criticism within his party for meeting with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised his voice saying, "Even I have to meet Leader Lee." However, he drew a line regarding the 'summit meeting' advocated by the opposition, saying it would be "difficult."

On the 11th, on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Mayor Hong said, "Right now, the president is not holding a ruling-opposition summit meeting, and the opposition camp is making a fuss about it, but this situation is somewhat different. It will be difficult to have a summit meeting."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is because the president oversees judicial procedures. He said, "If we meet, they will say we are making a crime deal, so we simply cannot meet," adding, "(Even if the conversation is disclosed afterward) would anyone believe that? No, they wouldn't."

However, the Mayor of Daegu is not overseeing judicial procedures and is free from 'deal' suspicions, so there is no reason not to meet. He also said through social media the day before, "The president cannot meet the opposition leader indicted for serious crimes because he oversees judicial procedures, but shouldn't I warmly welcome and offer kind words to the opposition leader who came to see me? Would it be right for me to also turn away the opposition leader?"

Mayor Hong said, "The Democratic Party leader said he would come to the mayor's office in Daegu. But how can I say to someone who says they will come, 'Don't come'?" He added, "If he says he will come to Daegu, to the mayor's office, wouldn't it be strange if I refuse? I am not someone who oversees judicial procedures."

He also revealed his intention as a local government head overseeing costly local projects that he cannot ignore the leader of the ruling party. He said, "Putting good or bad aside, as the Mayor of Daegu, there is a special law for the Moonlight High-Speed Railway project that Daegu City is promoting, and now the major opposition party is willing to help with it, so there is no reason to dislike that," adding, "And that is linked with the new airport project, connecting Yeongnam and Honam regions, which is very important. So, from the perspective of the Mayor of Daegu, I am grateful."

However, during his conversation with Leader Lee, he criticized Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and the presidential office, which drew resentment from the ruling party. Yoo Sang-beom, senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, pointed out to Yonhap News the day before, "I hope a senior party member thinks about how the public would view someone attacking the party leader and the presidential office at a meeting with the opposition leader."

Regarding this, Mayor Hong said, "The president also lacks political skills. Unlike ordinary politicians who shake hands and smile in front of people but then say 'that guy is bad' behind their backs, the president does not do that," adding, "That is politics. You have to meet even the truly bad guys and swindlers. That is what a politician does."

He also said that presidential aides should boldly speak frankly to President Yoon. He said, "If someone with guts and sufficient knowledge boldly confronts, even former President Jeon Du-hwan could not have treated Heo Sam-soo or Heo Hwa-pyung carelessly," adding, "From that perspective, I think the presidential office still lacks some political skills. That is what I meant. It is not criticism but a fact."

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