Hong Joon-pyo: "Prime Minister Offer? I Went Because I Was Unemployed and Invited for Lunch"

Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu, refuted the speculation that he could be appointed as prime minister following a private meeting with President Lee Jae-myung.

On April 18, through the YouTube channel 'TV Hong Car Cola,' Hong stated, "Unlike the chatter of sparrows, the luncheon was a natural conversation for about an hour and a half, filled with meaningful discussions about the country's stability and prosperity, along with old stories and honest exchanges. You don't have to misunderstand it as a luncheon for the prime minister's position."

Hong Joon-pyo, Former Mayor of Daegu. Screenshot from YouTube channel 'TV Hongkacola'

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Hong also explained the background behind the private meeting. He said, "More than two weeks ago, I received a call from Hong Ik-pyo, Chief Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, saying that the president wanted to have lunch with me. Since I am currently unaffiliated with any party and essentially unemployed, and I don't have many places to eat, I said I would go since he offered me lunch."

Hong explained that, during the meeting, he asked President Lee to support the TK New Airport project and to ease legal restrictions on former President Lee Myung-bak. Regarding the former president, he said, "Even if a former president who has been imprisoned is pardoned, there are still many legal restrictions. I requested that these restrictions be eased so that a former president can serve the country in his final years."

Hong recounted, "Even during my three terms in office, although the rival parties fiercely fought, there was a sense of romanticism where we could share a drink of soju at a food stall in front of the National Assembly at night." He continued, "These days, it seems that politicians fight not for the national interest but out of personal grudges." Appearing without a tie, he said, "This is exactly what I wore to the luncheon. If I wear a red tie, people say it looks shamanistic; if I wear a blue tie, they think I have switched to the Democratic Party. So I just didn't wear a tie and went to the Blue House in a Chinese-style dress shirt."

As some have tried to link this luncheon to his support for former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Hong criticized such interpretations as "utterly low-level and crude." Hong explained, "The luncheon was arranged before I decided to support him. I know his abilities and his capacity for harmony and communication, and that is why I decided to support him." He also mentioned his over 30-year-long connection with former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Hong emphasized that the luncheon was not a secret event. He said, "At Blue House luncheons, it is standard for the chief of staff and the chief presidential secretary for political affairs to attend to take notes on the president's instructions. If it were truly a secret meeting, it would have been held at a secure location where the president and I could meet alone." He concluded the video by saying, "The country is having a hard time now because of the Iran war. I hope Korea will prosper and be stable."

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