"Is Kim Jong-in Virtually the President? Yoon Looks Like a Figurehead," Hong Says, "He's Not That Easy to Handle"

Hong Jun-pyo, After Meeting Yoon on the 2nd, Said "He Has a Straightforward and Sincere Side"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is putting a red scarf around Kim Jong-in, the general election campaign committee chairman, at the launch ceremony of the People Power Party Central Election Countermeasures Committee held at KSPO Dome, Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Regarding the evaluation that Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, "seems like a figurehead," Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo responded, "Candidate Yoon is not that easy to deal with."

On the 6th, Assemblyman Hong stated this in the 'Cheongmun Hongdap (Hong Joon-pyo answers the concerns of youth)' segment of the youth communication platform 'Dream of Youth,' in response to a netizen's comment saying, "Is Kim Jong-in effectively the president? There are too many smart people in the camp, it's a big problem," and "Yoon Seok-yeol seems like a figurehead."

On that day, the Cheongmun Hongdap segment included voices mixed with concerns about the officially launched election campaign committee.

When asked, "Is Kim Jong-in a kingmaker? Former Assemblyman Lee Jae-oh once said that person didn't create a role but just looked for a position to be created. Do you agree, Assemblyman Hong?" he replied, "There is some truth to that."

To the question, "Politically, how do you plan to spend the next five years? After six terms, if the chance to be president is difficult, how about finishing your political career as the Speaker of the National Assembly?" he answered briefly, "Not yet."

Regarding the question, "Between Kim Jong-in and Representative Hong, one of them must have been considered by Lee Jun-seok as the overall head. Why did Lee Jun-seok request Kim Jong-in as the overall head?" he said, "To pressure the swarm of flies." The term "swarm of flies" appears to refer to the so-called 'Yunhaekgwan (key figures around Yoon Seok-yeol)' positioned around Candidate Yoon.

Earlier, on the 2nd, Assemblyman Hong met Candidate Yoon for the first time after the primary and said, "(Candidate Yoon) has a straightforward and sincere way of thinking."

At that time, Candidate Yoon mentioned issues regarding the appointment of the election campaign committee and conflicts with Party Leader Lee Jun-seok, asking Assemblyman Hong for help. Assemblyman Hong reportedly advised, "First, you need to go to Jeju Island where Leader Lee is and resolve the conflict with him."