Hong Jun-pyo Directly Attacks Yoo Seung-min: "Like Coal Gas, They Sow Discord Whenever There's a Gap"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, counterattacked against former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, who criticized him the day before, saying, "It is ironic that the very person responsible for making Daegu's GRDP (Gross Regional Domestic Product) rank last is now shamelessly selling out Daegu."

On the 11th, Mayor Hong stated on his social media service (SNS), "The reason I am involved in central politics is because I am the party's standing advisor, and the time I spend on it is less than 30 minutes a day. The rest of the time, I focus solely on Daegu's city administration.

People Power Party lawmaker Hong Jun-pyo is delivering a greeting at the JP Hope Camp closing ceremony held on the 8th at BNB Tower in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Mayor Hong's labeling of former lawmaker Yoo as "the person responsible for making Daegu's GRDP rank last" appears to point out that Yoo also served four terms as a member of the National Assembly representing Daegu. However, Daegu ranks last not in overall GRDP but in per capita GRDP.

At a discussion hosted by the Daegu-Gyeongbuk journalists' group 'Asia Forum 21' the previous day, former lawmaker Yoo criticized Mayor Hong, saying, "I don't know if you are just blaming others and writing posts on Facebook without seriously considering Daegu's administration," urging him to reflect on the fact that Daegu has ranked last in per capita GRDP for 30 years.

In response, Mayor Hong said, "I am rebuilding Daegu, which has been ruined by the old habits of Daegu like you," adding, "The public knows that I am not trying to seize party power but rather trying to eliminate the riffraff who are stirring up trouble, just as I did to prevent the collapse of the conservative group like during Park Geun-hye's impeachment."

He continued, "If the Yoon Seok-yeol administration falls, our country will have no hope, so this is not a matter of personal preference but a matter of national survival, which is why I am involved in central politics," advising, "Since the new year has begun, everyone should abandon the bad habit of sowing discord among party members and the public whenever there is a gap, like carbon monoxide gas."