Hong Joon-pyo Responds to 'Traitor' Criticism: "I've Been Through It All... Betrayal Is What I've Faced Countless Times"

"Eight Terms in 30 Years, Yet They Call It Betrayal?"
"Stayed Loyal to the Party Despite Collective Bullying by Pro-Lee and Pro-Park Factions"

As criticism of the actions of Hong Joonpyo, former Mayor of Daegu, continued from some within the People Power Party and the broader conservative camp, Hong responded sharply, saying, "In life, you go through all sorts of things. All sorts of people who are hardly even human come at you," adding, "I've been betrayed countless times."

Photo of Hong Joonpyo, former Mayor of Daegu

On April 19, through his Facebook page, Hong stated, "Since there are so many chattering nobodies, I think it's time to set the record straight," and began by saying, "Within the conservative party, I have run once as a presidential candidate, served five terms as a National Assembly member, two terms as Governor of South Gyeongsang Province, and once as Mayor of Daegu, totaling eight terms. Yet some say I betrayed that trust, but that's something I need to address."

He explained, "When I first became a lawmaker, my constituency was Songpa-gap in Seoul, which had been a tough district where the conservative party lost for 16 years. Thanks to the popularity of the drama Sandglass at that time, I was first elected and succeeded in pushing through the Jamsil redevelopment, which turned it into a conservative stronghold. When I moved to Dongdaemun-eul and was elected three times, it was also because of my own character, not because of the party."

He continued, "You can see this by the fact that, after I left Dongdaemun-eul, it has consistently remained a stronghold for the Democratic Party. When I ran in the party primary for Governor of South Gyeongsang Province twice, not only the party leadership but also every single lawmaker from the province banded together and did everything they could to get the pro-Park candidate elected. When I was forced out to Daegu and ran as an independent, not only the party leadership but also every Daegu lawmaker united to campaign against me."

He added, "During the mayoral primary in Daegu, I had to run with a 15 percent penalty due to the dominance of the pro-Yoon faction. Even during my two terms as party leader, I was subjected to collective bullying by the pro-Lee and pro-Park factions, but party members still chose me as leader. As for my time as floor leader, it was because, at the start of the Lee Myung-bak administration during the mad cow disease crisis, I was the only one who could navigate the situation, so I was unanimously elected."

Hong stressed, "In no case have I ever relied on a faction, flattered a faction leader, or kowtowed to lawmakers to secure a position—not even once. When I ran as the party's candidate in the May 2017 impeachment election, my goal was not victory but to take on the role of relief pitcher, having resigned as Governor of South Gyeongsang Province midway, just to try to save the devastated party."

He continued, "At the time, the owner of a leading conservative media outlet even asked me, 'Would you get a chance if this were a normal presidential election?' I had to endure such humiliating comments. After reviving the devastated party, they brought in Hwang Kyo-ahn, kicked me out as an independent, and even after I barely managed to return, they refused to reinstate my membership for a year and two months. During the primary against Yoon Suk-yeol, even though I won a landslide public opinion poll with 10.27 percent, I was ousted by the party member vote. Even in the last primary, despite leading the public poll by 7 percent, the party cut me down to third place," expressing his deep resentment toward the People Power Party.

He went on, "Having left that party because I could no longer stay, I now live a free life like the wind. For those who talk of betrayal, it's truly the act of the most shameless people. Betrayal is only possible when there is mutual trust," he lamented. Recently, Hong declared his support for Kim Boo-kyum as mayor of Daegu and attended a dinner at the request of President Lee Jaemyung, actions for which he received criticism mainly from conservatives.

Regarding this, Hong said, "I have been betrayed countless times, but even so, I quietly stayed with that party for 30 years." He added, "However, I could not endure it any longer, so I left," and further emphasized, "That's why it is not 'withdrawal from the party' but 'escape' and 'renunciation of party membership.'"

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