Hong Jun-pyo's 'Leaving the Party' Remark Asked, Yoon Seok-yeol Says "Let's Stop That Now"

Hong's "I wish they had just let me leave the party..." remark met with Yoon's evasive response

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is wearing a mask properly while attending the '2022 Virtual Asset Conference' held at the Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 20th./Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] When asked about the remarks by fellow People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo regarding 'leaving the party,' Yoon Seok-yeol, the party's presidential candidate, avoided a direct answer, saying, "(Let's) stop asking such questions now."

On the 23rd, after attending the 'National Pledge Unboxing Day' held at a political cafe house in Yeouido, Seoul, Yoon was asked about Hong. He responded, "Who said what, and what do you think about that? Let's stop those kinds of questions now."

When a reporter pressed again, saying, "Hong recently expressed displeasure...," Yoon cut off the question, saying, "That's what I just said." He also refused to answer when asked if Hong had said he would rather be expelled from the party.

Yoon and Hong recently clashed over Hong's joining of the People Power Party's election campaign headquarters. On the 19th, Hong met with Yoon and was offered the position of senior advisor to the campaign headquarters. However, it was revealed that Hong demanded strategic nominations for the by-elections in Jongno, Seoul, and Jungnang-gu, Daegu, as a condition for joining, which drew criticism within the party as 'old-fashioned politics.' Ultimately, Hong's joining the campaign headquarters was canceled.

On the 23rd, Hong mentioned the possibility of 'leaving the party' on his online communication platform 'Cheongnyeonui Kkum' (Youth's Dream) bulletin board, stating, "I can't leave on my own, but if the 'Yunhaekgwan' (key figures close to Yoon Seok-yeol) stir things up and just expel me, I would feel more at ease."

Meanwhile, Hong has been sharpening his criticism toward Yoon's camp day after day. When it became known that Yoon's spouse, Kim Geon-hee, made remarks in the '7-hour phone call transcript' implying that Hong and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min had performed a 'gut' (shamanistic ritual), Hong expressed displeasure through the Cheongnyeonui Kkum bulletin board, saying, "I have never performed a gut in my life, and I do not believe in shamanism," adding, "It's scary to think about what will happen later when lies are told so naturally."