Hong Jun-pyo "A Lion Never Dies"... Rumors Swirl After 'SNS Deletion'

Hong "Delete when leaving records is inappropriate"
"Typical Hong Joon-pyo", some criticism as "fandom politician"

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who was suspended from party membership for 10 months due to the controversy over the 'flood golf' incident, stated, "I hope there will be no more debates over this issue."

However, shortly after, he posted and then deleted messages on his social network service (SNS) such as "Will the general election be okay if even I am cast out?", "A lion never dies even when torn apart by a pack of hyenas," and "Carry on with Yoo Seung-min and Lee Jun-seok." These posts expressed his dissatisfaction with the disciplinary action.

After the Central Ethics Committee of the party decided to initiate disciplinary action on the 20th of last month, Mayor Hong also wrote and then deleted the term 'Gwahaji-yok,' meaning 'enduring the humiliation of crawling under the crotch,' on SNS, which sparked controversy.

On the afternoon of the 17th, Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, was leaving the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, after a meeting with Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, when he answered reporters' questions. 2023.7.17 [Image source=Yonhap News]

Supporters also raised questions about Mayor Hong posting and deleting messages on SNS. On the online communication platform 'Cheongnyeon-ui Kkum' (Youth's Dream) bulletin board, one supporter wrote, "If you're going to write something on Facebook and then delete it, wouldn't it be better not to write it at all...?"

The supporter expressed concern, saying, "These days, news often reports that the mayor has edited or deleted Facebook posts, and from the public's perspective, it might make him appear frivolous." In response, Mayor Hong replied in a comment, "Expressing one's opinion and leaving a record is done when it is not appropriate to do so."

Various interpretations emerged in the political sphere regarding Mayor Hong's Facebook posts. Jang Sung-chul, director of the Public Opinion Center, said in a CBS radio interview, "(Mayor Hong's remarks) are fundamentally correct but inconsistent," pointing out, "When disciplining Lee Jun-seok, he said things like 'Be cautious. The party has the freedom to discipline.'"

He added, "Since he is in a difficult situation himself, I think he is defending Lee Jun-seok and Yoo Seung-min by saying, 'Don't cast me out, don't point fingers at me,' as a form of protest."

Park Won-seok, former policy committee chairman of the Justice Party, said on the same broadcast, "Looking at Mayor Hong's recent behavior, I think he has become a fandom politician," criticizing, "He actively communicates and receives support with very subjective statements, but all the content is in a commanding tone." He added, "I strongly felt that he is not a politician who deeply contemplates or seriously considers his political future."

Yang Geum-hee, a member of the People Power Party, interpreted in a YTN radio interview, "This is an action typical of Mayor Hong," and "At the same time, deleting it immediately shows that he is aware of the disciplinary situation and is exercising restraint."

There are also evaluations that Mayor Hong's political standing, considered a leading presidential candidate within the ruling party, has been significantly shaken by this controversy. Seemingly aware of this, Mayor Hong stated, "I still have a long time of three years left." This is interpreted as his intention to seek a path back to the presidency during the remaining three years of his term as Daegu mayor.

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