Hong Joon-pyo: "MB and Park's Apologies? Only Deepen Public's Disregard... Must Become a Clear Opposition Party"

"Democratic Party, Have They Ever Apologized for the Failures of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun?"

Independent lawmaker Hong Jun-pyo is making a parliamentary procedure statement at the National Defense Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo criticized Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, on the 22nd for stating that he would apologize for the imprisonment of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, saying, “A party that becomes a secondary party following the ruling party’s policies or apologizes while sympathizing with the sacrifices of past opposition leaders who became victims of the ruling party’s oppression cannot be called a clear opposition party, and it will only deepen the public’s disregard.”

On the same day, Hong said on Facebook, “Has the Democratic Party of Korea ever apologized for the failures of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun?” and added, “It is appropriate to leave those issues as historical facts that carry both merits and demerits.”

Hong emphasized, “The role of the opposition party exists only if it becomes a clear opposition party that represents the public’s anger against an unjust regime.”

He stated, “In the general election on February 12, 1985, the New Democratic Party, which had been founded only 23 days earlier, raised the banner of a clear opposition party, sank the government-controlled opposition party Minhandang, and became the main opposition party,” adding, “This is a clear example showing that if the opposition loses its clarity and only acts as a secondary party, the people may abandon it.”

Hong said, “The path for today’s opposition is not that of a flightless ostrich but that of a brave eagle soaring high in the sky,” and urged, “Make an effort. Reborn as a clear opposition party.”