'Hongbanjang' Returns After 1 Year and 3 Months... Joins People Power Party Starting Today

Rep. Hong Jun-pyo's Reinstatement Unanimously Approved at People Power Party Supreme Council Meeting

Hong Joon-pyo, Member of the People Power Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Geum Bo-ryeong] Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo has rejoined the People Power Party after 1 year and 3 months. He had left the party last year in protest against the nomination results of the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) during the general election.

On the 24th, the People Power Party's Supreme Council unanimously approved Hong's application for reinstatement. With his return, the party now holds 103 seats. Among opposition presidential candidates, Hong currently ranks second in approval ratings, following former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol. His reentry into the party is expected to bring changes to the internal presidential race dynamics.

Until now, Hong has been criticizing former Prosecutor General Yoon from outside the party. Within the People Power Party, there are concerns that Hong's characteristic aggressiveness could hinder the unification process of opposition candidates. The day before, Hong criticized Yoon on Facebook, stating, "As seen in the judge surveillance case, the person who always conducted surveillance is trying to evade scrutiny by alleging illegal surveillance, which is not a proper attitude." In response, party leader Lee Jun-seok described this as "the most 'amateurish' mutual attack that could happen ahead of the presidential election" and requested restraint.

This series of events suggests that Hong's strengthened voice within the party could at least become a variable affecting former Prosecutor General Yoon's entry and establishment in the party. Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University Graduate School of Political Studies analyzed, "Whether Hong's controversial remarks are positive or negative is uncertain, but overall, they could spread the spark of internal party conflict." On the other hand, as there is a strong call for the party's landscape itself to expand from 'hardline conservative' to 'moderate,' there is also a possibility that Hong may show a different attitude than in the past.