Hong Jun-pyo "Even if Lee Jae-myung is corrupt, fandom remains; come to People Power Party to work part-time"

Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, criticized the political circles in Yeouido on the 29th, saying, "Because factional logic dominates, even if Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is corrupt, a fandom has formed. The people do not know what is right or wrong." The People Power Party pointed out that some lawmakers come to do 'part-time jobs' using their fame. They raised their voices, saying that politics dividing left and right should stop.

At the regular seminar of the 'Meeting to Prepare a New Future' held at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Mayor Hong said that Lee had become an "object of worship" and predicted, "When the 22nd National Assembly opens, it will be the worst chaotic National Assembly in history."

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is singing the national anthem at the regular seminar of the "Meeting to Prepare for a New Future" held on the 29th at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

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The reason he predicted that political polarization would be most pronounced in the 22nd National Assembly is due to the current situation of the People Power Party. Mayor Hong said, "Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, has joined, and Lee Jae-myung is soaring, but we alone suffered a crushing defeat in the election and are all discouraged and shrinking," adding, "The number of seats in the National Assembly is expected to be worse than in the 21st National Assembly." He lamented, "There are no warriors in our party," saying, "The last warriors in our party were Lee Jae-oh, Kim Moon-soo, and Hong Jun-pyo. Since then, there have been no warriors in our party."

Regarding the reason why there are no more warriors, he pointed out that the party does not nurture politicians. Mayor Hong said, "The Democratic Party has people who grow from the bottom up," adding, "Because they grow from party members, loyalty and such are ingrained from the start of their political careers, but our party is not like that." He continued, "They just work as bureaucrats, get nominated with just a name, and once they enter, being a lawmaker is just a part-time job," adding, "It has long become a party where people are recruited and do part-time jobs once they gain fame."

He also claimed, "Even when the People Power Party fights against the Democratic Party and gets attacked, the party does not protect them at the party level." Mayor Hong said, "Didn't you see it during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye?" and criticized, "It has become an interest group that only pursues personal interests and betrays whenever it conflicts with their own interests." He said, "Because such people gather, there is no fighting power," and urged, "Party members must awaken."

Mayor Hong said that it is difficult to become a truly advanced country without breaking the confrontation structure of left and right factional logic. He said, "Whether left or right, politicians must think about national interests," adding, "If it benefits the country and the people, leftist policies must also be accepted." He emphasized, "If it benefits the country, we must accept the position of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and the opinions of Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party."

Mayor Hong also said, "Of course, there are regrets about the last primary," but added, "We must protect the president we elected. It is not right to put the president in trouble."

After serving as Daegu mayor, he also hinted at his intention to run for the presidency. Mayor Hong said, "If a Daegu-Gyeongbuk Special City is created, one of the two metropolitan governors must give up running next," adding with a joking tone, "So I told Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, 'I won't run next time. You take it all,' and he said he would unify."

To the members of the 22nd National Assembly, who are about to open their term, he urged, "Live your politics with dignity even if only for a day."

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