'YS grandson' Kim In-gyu targets Hong Joon-pyo with "increasingly intense" criticism

"Senior Member Paying 500,000 Won Monthly Party Fee Causes Party Split"
Mayor Hong Entered Politics as 'YS Kids' in the Past

Kim In-gyu, former presidential secretary and grandson of former President Kim Young-sam (YS), fired a direct shot at Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, saying "things are getting worse day by day" and asking, "Is it appropriate for a senior party member to plot division and sow discord within the party when the household is already in turmoil?"

On the 10th, Kim shared a news article on his Facebook page criticizing Hong’s remarks about former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Han Dong-hoon, and made these comments. He began his post by saying, "No one is able to stop this, so I am speaking out of frustration." He then asked, "Was the defeat in the 2017 presidential election a 'forced' loss because it was an unwinnable election? Was the 2018 local election defeat also a 'forced' loss due to the aftermath of impeachment? And in the 21st general election, did I 'forcefully' leave the party and run as an independent?"

Kim In-gyu, former administrative officer of the Presidential Office of Political Affairs, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on December 11 last year, announcing his candidacy for Seo and Dong districts in Busan.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kim said, "It seems there is no room for reflection in that person’s dictionary," adding, "A defeat in an election is simply a defeat, not something 'forced.' I find it hard to agree with the perception that if I lose, it is 'forced,' but if others lose, it is a fault." This appears to be a reference to Hong’s candidacy as the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) candidate in the 2017 presidential election, where he lost to former President Moon Jae-in, and his leadership of the party in the 2019 local elections, where they suffered a significant defeat to the Democratic Party of Korea.

Kim continued, "If you truly care about the party, wouldn’t it be the role of the senior who has steadfastly protected the party for 30 years to offer solutions on how the People Power Party can regain the support of the 2030 generation and how to nurture the party’s young politicians?" He criticized, "Is it appropriate for a senior party member who pays 500,000 won monthly in party dues to plot division and sow discord when the household is already in turmoil? Right now, managing the party’s crisis should come before division."

Kim In-gyu is the second son among two sons and one daughter of Kim Hyun-chul, the second son of former President Kim Young-sam. He attempted to run in the Busan West and East electoral district in the April 10 general election but lost the nomination to elected candidate Kwak Kyu-taek in the primary.

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

On the same day, Mayor Hong posted on his Facebook, "Han Dong-hoon still has not forgotten the devastation caused by the state corruption scandal orchestrated under Moon Jae-in’s orders," and strongly criticized, "President Yoon Suk-yeol reluctantly accepted and serves him, but Han Dong-hoon is difficult to forgive." He added, "Also, based on the judgment that a 'sudden appearance' (gapttuk-twi) should not cause chaos in South Korea, I am informing the public and party members in advance about Han Dong-hoon’s mistakes and incompetence."

Mayor Hong gained fame as the 'Hourglass' prosecutor in the past and entered politics after being selected by former President Kim Young-sam following his departure from the prosecution in 1995.

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