Supporter Saying "Don't Join Yoon's Campaign"... Hong Joon-pyo: "We Must Prevent a Bully from Becoming President"

Hong Jun-pyo Meets Yoon Seok-yeol: "Guarantee Governance Capability and Strictly Punish In-Law Corruption"

Hong Joon-pyo, member of the People Power Party. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 19th, Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, said to supporters who discouraged him from joining the election campaign committee after a private dinner meeting with Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, "Still, we have to stop a thug from becoming president." This remark appears to be aimed at Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate.

On the same day, on his online political platform 'Dream of Youth,' in the segment 'Cheongmun Hongdap' (Hong Joon-pyo answers the concerns of youth), when a netizen said, "I usually follow Junpyo’s will, but please do not join the campaign," he responded this way.

When another netizen said, "'Thug' is absolutely unacceptable, but I cannot tolerate Yoon’s family, who can be said to be at the top of the 'prosecutorial cartel,' going to the Blue House," Hong replied, "Still better than a thug," once again.

Meanwhile, when a netizen mentioned Jeon Mo, known as 'Geonjin Beopsa' or 'Geonjin Dosa,' and asked, "What kind of person is Yoon Seok-yeol whom you met, Congressman? Is he normal? Is Yoon, who serves that Dosa, normal? I don’t want a great person, I want to elect a normal person," Hong said, "I heard there is someone who recommended Geonjin Dosa."

Photo by 'Cheongnyeonui Kkum' homepage screen capture.

Earlier, Hong and Yoon had a private dinner together at a restaurant located somewhere in Seoul. Afterwards, Hong posted on 'Dream of Youth' the conditions he presented to Yoon for participating in the central election campaign committee.

Hong said, "During the two and a half hours of dinner with candidate Yoon tonight, I made two requests. First, I hope measures will be taken to guarantee the ability to manage state affairs and alleviate public anxiety. Second, I hope there will be a public declaration to strictly punish corruption related to the candidate’s in-laws." He added, "If these two issues are resolved, I will participate in the election team as a standing advisor to the central election campaign committee."

Meanwhile, when a netizen asked on 'Dream of Youth,' "You had dinner with candidate Yoon, but you probably didn’t eat much because you were busy with the meeting, right?" Hong jokingly replied, "Candidate Yoon has a very good appetite," indicating that the atmosphere of the meeting was good.