[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu and Standing Advisor of the People Power Party, mentioned the 'Fast Track Clash' incident from three years ago and targeted former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who was then the floor leader and party leader, as well as former Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn. In response, Na Kyung-won rebutted by calling it a "novel in delusion."
Hong Joon-pyo Launches Preemptive Strike
On the 27th, Mayor Hong referred to the trial related to the 'Fast Track Clash' incident that occurred in November 2019 through his social media (SNS).
He said, "In the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over the election law and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act in November 2019, our party, which was the opposition at the time, physically tried to block the passage of those two laws in the National Assembly. As a result, the party leader, floor leader, and many current and former lawmakers were indicted for violating the National Assembly Advancement Act," adding, "At that time, the party leader and floor leader pressured lawmakers whose nominations depended on the next year's primaries to take the front line, and the leadership, who boldly promised to take responsibility, did not take responsibility afterward."
This was aimed at former leader Hwang and former lawmaker Na, who were the leadership at the time.
He also shared an anecdote about persuading former leader Hwang. Mayor Hong said, "At that time, I visited Hwang, who was on a hunger strike, and told him, 'We can repeal the CIO Act when we come to power, so hand it over and negotiate to block the strange mixed-member proportional representation system.' In fact, the Democratic Party was hoping for that too," and added, "I also said that if both were forcibly blocked, many of our party lawmakers would suffer," recounting the situation at the time.
However, despite Mayor Hong's dissuasion, the leadership physically blocked the passage of the laws in the National Assembly, and as a result, 27 members from the Liberty Korea Party alone were mass indicted. Mayor Hong said, "If the leadership had stepped forward and negotiated, saying 'We will take responsibility during the prosecution investigation stage, so do not indict lawmakers who followed our orders,' would dozens of current and former lawmakers still be shackled by political exile?" He pointed out, "This case is a serious legal violation that results in automatic political expulsion if found guilty. It was all recorded on the National Assembly CCTV, so can it be acquitted?"
He continued, "How do the current and former lawmakers involved in the trial, which is expected to conclude the first trial within this year, feel now due to the leadership's extreme irresponsibility?" and said, "When you meet irresponsible and incompetent leadership, only the lawmakers and party members suffer bitterly."
Na Kyung-won's Rebuttal... "Crossed the Line"
In response, former lawmaker Na also rebutted Mayor Hong's claims on SNS. He said, "The post about the Fast Track trial that Mayor Hong uploaded on Facebook is a delusional novel written without even the minimum factual knowledge and is merely a baseless speculation brought by his distorted prejudice," adding, "Hong probably cannot even imagine what kind of fierce negotiations I was having with the ruling party at that time or what the outcome would have been if I had continued as floor leader."
He continued, "I can guess the political intention behind his continuous vile attacks on me," and said, "I did not respond because I felt sorry for the daily displays of that behavior, but at least regarding the Fast Track trial, such absurd distortions have crossed the line. Why is he so impatient?" he raised his voice.
Mayor Hong has recently engaged in an all-out war by repeatedly targeting former lawmaker Na through SNS. On the 18th, Mayor Hong posted on SNS, "If a couple does not harmonize in a good sense but only harmonizes out of ambition for success, that is truly problematic," targeting Na and his spouse. In response, Na's side issued a press release on the 19th saying, "We deeply regret the merciless attacks even on family," and "Mayor Hong must clearly take responsibility for his remarks."
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