Hong Jun-pyo: "If a Reinstatement Hearing Venue Is Provided, I Will Leave"

Claiming to be a 'Nomination Victim'... "Blocking Reinstatement Is Unethical"

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 10th, announcing his return to the People Power Party. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo expressed his willingness to return to the People Power Party (PPP) again, stating that he would step forward if they held a 'reinstatement hearing.'

On the morning of the 11th, Hong said on Facebook, "It is not a democratic party to block the freedom to join a political party just because of opposition from a small minority," adding, "If Kim Ki-hyun, the acting party leader and floor leader, arranges even a reinstatement hearing, I am willing to attend confidently and explain some misunderstandings that have arisen."

He also explained, "65% of the People Power Party supporters back my reinstatement, and except for one among the roughly ten candidates running for party leadership, all support my return." Earlier, according to a public opinion poll released on the 9th by Money Today in collaboration with the Future Korea Research Institute and conducted by the polling agency PNR, 64.7% of PPP supporters responded favorably to the question of Hong's reinstatement. (The survey targeted 1,003 men and women aged 18 and over nationwide, using 100% wireless phone methodology, with a sampling error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.)

However, there are also critical voices within the party. On the 10th, Kim Jae-seop, a member of the emergency committee, expressed opposition to Hong's reinstatement on Facebook, saying, "I will only accept your loyalty to the party." On the 9th, lawmaker Kim Woong directly addressed Hong, saying, "Sir, please live as an everlasting artificial flower."

Regarding this controversy, Hong claimed that he was wronged during the party's nomination process for last year's general election. At that time, after conflicts with the party's nomination management committee, he left the party and ran as an independent in Daegu, winning the election. Hong said, "It is politically unethical to block the reinstatement of a victim of a disastrous nomination within the same party when the party even pleaded with the person who imprisoned two former presidents from our party through political investigations and pursued a merger with another party's leader, Ahn Cheol-soo," adding, "I was unjustly driven out and endured hardship for one year and two months."

Finally, he urged Acting Leader Kim, saying, "I hope you will promptly hold a party meeting and resolve this matter magnanimously."