"Kim Jong-in has no intention of meeting in the primary"
"Meeting between President Moon and Lee Jae-myung is 'inappropriate' due to the main culprit of Daejang-dong corruption"
People Power Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo is announcing a major reform pledge on defense and security at the election campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential primary candidate from the People Power Party, refuted claims from Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign that he requested a private meeting with former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in but was rejected, stating that the claim is not true.
Earlier on the 25th, Kim Kyung-jin, a special advisor for external cooperation in Yoon Seok-yeol’s camp, appeared on CBS Radio’s "Hanpan Seungbu" and said, "There is a rumor going around that Candidate H (Hong) requested a private meeting with former Chairman Kim, but former Chairman Kim rejected it."
Kim also mentioned that Yoon and former Chairman Kim have had several phone calls, adding, "Wherever he (former Chairman Kim) goes, the candidate has won. Recently, former Chairman Kim said, ‘Candidate H (Hong) has limits in rising, and I believe Candidate Yoon will win.’"
In response, Hong firmly stated in a phone interview with KBS Radio’s "Choi Young-il’s Current Affairs Headquarters" on the 26th, "I have not contacted (former Chairman Kim)."
Regarding the phone calls between Yoon and former Chairman Kim claimed by Advisor Kim, Hong dismissed it as "a lie," saying, "Former Chairman Kim is not involved in the primary. If I receive help in the primary, all conservative voters in Yeongnam would dislike it. Therefore, there is no need to meet former Chairman Kim during the primary, and I have never contacted him to meet."
He continued, "Even though my aides kept urging me to meet because they were worried, I have no intention of meeting during the primary," expressing displeasure by saying, "Isn’t Kim Kyung-jin that person from the Democratic Party? He strangely switched sides and caused embarrassment by lying last time as well. Even someone who was a prosecutor should not be spreading such lies."
Meanwhile, Hong showed a negative reaction to the meeting held that day between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and President Moon Jae-in. He emphasized, "The meeting location itself is inappropriate, and the intention not to keep records is incomprehensible. The person accused as the main culprit of the Daejang-dong corruption is now meeting the president, and no one knows what they are talking about. That is unacceptable."
He added, "Candidate Lee is currently accused as the main culprit of the Daejang-dong corruption. The president meeting with someone accused, making secret deals without the public knowing what they said or what agreements they made, is something the public cannot be aware of," and criticized it as "a very inappropriate action for a president."
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