Hong Jun-pyo: "Even Though I Lived in Poverty, I Was Not Sarcastic Like Lee Jae-myung"

People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo receives a bouquet from supporters during his visit to the party branch in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do on the 10th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Hong Jun-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, visited the Gyeongbuk region and confronted Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung.

On the 10th, Hong toured Gyeongsan, Yeongcheon, and Pohang, visiting the Gyeongju party branch, where he stated, "(I) lived in extreme poverty but never became sarcastic like Governor Lee." He added, "Governor Lee hates the rich," and said, "Although I lived a hard life from a young age, I have never hated the rich."

Hong continued, "I thought I should live hard and become rich," emphasizing, "It is terrifying just to think about what would happen to South Korea if a person who hates the rich and others becomes president." He also added, "Governor Lee is a fighter, but if we fight, I fight better."

On the other hand, regarding his intra-party competitor, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, Hong said, "Until mid-August, public opinion was formed that our party had to put forward former Prosecutor General Yoon to regain power." However, he added, "Since before last Chuseok, I have risen to first place among opposition candidates," and urged, "Please support someone who will not be criticized in the final vote."

Earlier, Hong had criticized both Governor Lee and former Prosecutor General Yoon together as a "criminal community." In response, Yoon's camp said, "We have a common goal," and stated, "We want to compete fiercely but with dignity, not forgetting that we are comrades, and to move away from the past and toward the future."