Hong Jun-pyo: "Park Geun-hye's Impeachment Was Wrong, I Will Pardon Her Immediately If I Become President"

On the 12th, visit to the birthplace of President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk

On the 12th, Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, visited the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Sangmo-dong, Gumi City, Gyeongbuk, and poured priming water into the pump used by former President Park.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “The impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye was wrong. She should be released as soon as possible.”

On the 12th, Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, visited the birthplace of President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, and said, “The impeachment of former President Park five years ago was wrong, and her detention was also wrong.”

He also said, “When the regime changes, she will be automatically pardoned,” adding, “There should have at least been a suspension of sentence execution on last August 15th Liberation Day. Now is the time to release her. If I become president, I will pardon her immediately.”

Regarding his high approval ratings among young people in their 20s, Hong analyzed, “People in their 20s to 40s are honest, confident, and live according to their own beliefs,” and “My character fits well with them, which is why I am popular.”

In response to the recent so-called ‘Pig Libido Enhancer’ controversy aimed at him by Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Hong stated, “I will not respond.”

On the day he visited President Park Chung-hee’s birthplace, Hong said, “It is already written in a book published in 2006. I was not involved,” and “If we take legal action regarding the episode that happened 50 years ago at a boarding house, we would have to summon friends who are currently maintaining social stability. It is better not to disturb their livelihood,” thus stepping back from his initial strong response stance.

Regarding the ‘accusation inducement suspicion’ involving Yoon Seok-youl, a preliminary candidate, Hong said, “That is not befitting of a manly leader. Personal issues should be resolved by the individual,” and “Since it is an intra-party primary, it is not right for the party to intervene in a candidate’s personal matters.”

He also bluntly stated, “For the party to take on a candidate’s personal issues is a foolish act that falls into the frame the Democratic Party of Korea is trying to set up to implicate our party as an accomplice.”