Hong Ik-pyo: "December Defection of the Reform Faction? No Lawmaker Is Talking About Leaving"

Democratic Party Floor Leader YTN Radio Interview
"Rumors of Party Defection Amplified by Endless Speculation"

Ahead of next year's general election, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, refuted rumors of a 'December defection' from the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction (Bi-Lee Jae-myung faction), stating, "No lawmakers have mentioned leaving the party yet."

On the 13th, Hong appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' and said, "Some lawmakers have mentioned such things, but the talk of defection arises because anchors keep asking questions like that."

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

He continued, "For example, Lawmaker Lee Won-wook said, 'I am not currently acting on the premise of leaving the party,'" adding, "There are cases where these remarks get twisted and amplified repeatedly, but I believe it is the leadership's responsibility to coordinate internal opinions to prevent such situations, and I will work hard on that."

Regarding In Yo-han, the Innovation Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, who recently stated in an interview with a media outlet, "We welcome those dissatisfied with the Democratic Party if they join us," Hong criticized the remark as "highly inappropriate."

Hong said, "For someone who has served as a head of a crisis management committee to tell dissatisfied members of the opposing party to come to our party is almost a politically manipulative statement," and pointed out, "Still, there are some basic common-sense courtesies that should be maintained between the ruling and opposition parties."

About former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who hinted at running in next year's general election by mentioning 'non-legal restoration of honor,' Hong said, "I have not heard anything directly from him," adding, "He has not definitively announced his candidacy yet. Some things I hear suggest the possibility of running, while others suggest otherwise, so I cannot say anything for sure."

He added, "Since it is a personal decision of former Minister Cho Kuk, and he has not yet joined our party, I do not know what he will do, but I think he will probably consider, together with us, how the broader democratic camp, including our party and the opposition, should proceed," and said, "I would like to meet him soon and hear what he has to say."

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