[Politics, That Day] Daegu's 'Political Idols'... The Link of Bad Blood Between Yoo Seung-min and Hong Joon-pyo

Daegu Public Sentiment Without a Leader, Where Is the Next Presidential Election Headed?
Original Idol Yoo Seung-min Faces Burden of Traitor Image
Incumbent Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, Still the TK Leader

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Politics, That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

On May 22, 2018, at the Buddha's Birthday Ceremony held at Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Yoo Seung-min, co-representative of the Bareunmirae Party (left), and Hong Joon-pyo, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, are having a conversation. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

“A bad habit of coming up through any gap like coal gas and sowing discord among party members and the public...” - Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City

“(For 30 years) We should be thinking about how Daegu can escape from being last, not wasting energy criticizing me.” - Yoo Seung-min, former lawmaker

The war of nerves between the presidential hopefuls from the People Power Party, Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, is intensifying. Their harsh words go beyond the bounds considering they are currently in the same party and have been colleagues in Yeouido politics for nearly 20 years.

There is something beyond simple criticism.

Mayor Hong Joon-pyo became a member of the National Assembly when he was elected as a member of the New Korea Party in the 15th general election in 1996. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min became a member of the National Assembly in 2004 as a proportional representative of the Grand National Party.

Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is one of the politicians with the longest political careers among active politicians in Yeouido. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min will also mark 20 years as a member of the National Assembly next year.

Although the two politicians have had different political orientations at times, they mostly lived together in the same conservative party, which is the root of the conservative party.

Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City

They are also close in age, with Mayor Hong Joon-pyo born in 1954 and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min born in 1958. At that age, in their mid to late 60s, one might expect some affection, but they are snarling at each other.

Their conflict is also related to their choices during the impeachment process of President Park Geun-hye: Mayor Hong Joon-pyo stayed in the party, while former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min left the party. Many supported the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Even among the current mainstream forces of the People Power Party, there are quite a few lawmakers who supported the impeachment. It is difficult to fully understand the confrontation between the two solely based on conflicts over party withdrawal and splits.

What is noteworthy is that both were called or dreamed of being the ‘idols’ of Daegu politics. The intersection of their political careers is Daegu. Mayor Hong Joon-pyo started his legislative activities in Songpa, Seoul, and spent most of his time as a lawmaker in Dongdaemun.

Although he achieved his dream of becoming a multi-term lawmaker in Seoul, to realize his presidential dream, it was important to establish a base in Daegu, the stronghold of the conservative party. This is why politician Hong Joon-pyo, who was elected twice as governor of Gyeongnam Province, ran as an independent candidate in Daegu Suseong district ahead of the 21st general election in 2020.

In the Daegu Suseong district election, where candidates from the United Future Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) and the Democratic Party also ran, candidate Hong Joon-pyo was elected with 38.51% of the vote. In 2020, he finally became a member of the National Assembly from Daegu.

Daegu was a no-man’s land after former President Park Geun-hye’s resignation. Although there are many politicians from Daegu and Gyeongbuk, there was no clear figure who could be called the leader. Politician Hong Joon-pyo’s candidacy in Daegu was a strategic move looking to the future.

Politician Hong Joon-pyo ran as the People Power Party’s candidate for mayor of Daegu in the 8th nationwide local elections on June 1 last year and was elected with an overwhelming 78.75% of the vote. This was more than double his 2020 vote share, a vertical rise.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min

Although he currently serves as the mayor of Daegu, it is awkward to call him the idol of Daegu politics. This is connected to the complex reality of Daegu politics.

The real political idol nurtured by Daegu was someone else: politician Yoo Seung-min. Unlike Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min spent most of his political career in Daegu. In the 18th general election in 2008, politician Yoo Seung-min ran as the Grand National Party candidate in Daegu Dong-gu and was elected with 84.43% of the vote.

At the time when the Park Geun-hye syndrome was driving Daegu politics, politician Yoo Seung-min emerged as the figure to succeed her. The Daegu public steadily supported politician Yoo Seung-min. In 2016, he ran as an independent candidate in Daegu Dong-gu and won a landslide victory with 75.74% of the vote.

Even during the tense period with then-President Park Geun-hye, Daegu public sentiment supported politician Yoo Seung-min. However, after the impeachment crisis of President Park Geun-hye in December 2016, Daegu public sentiment fell into turmoil. Politicians who supported the impeachment experienced backlash in Daegu.

After that incident, politician Yoo Seung-min effectively stepped down from the position of Daegu’s political idol. He faces the challenge of overcoming the disappointed public opinion caused by that day’s events. However, it is also difficult to see politician Hong Joon-pyo, the current mayor of Daegu, as the leader of Daegu politics.

The era of no-man’s land in Daegu politics continues. Among other politicians based in Daegu, there is no suitable successor in sight.

Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min remain as options. Will Daegu choose one of them? Or will it nurture a new figure as the idol of Daegu politics? One thing is clear: a figure recognized as the idol of Daegu politics can gain an advantageous position in the 2027 People Power Party presidential race.