The Democratic Party dismisses Honorary Chairman Hong Jun-pyo... Hong says, "Appoint the pastor who used abusive language"

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On the 13th, the People Power Party dismissed Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, from his position as a standing advisor. This move came as Hong repeatedly criticized the party leadership's response to Kim Jae-won's controversial remarks related to Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, attempting to contain the internal discord spreading within the party. However, Hong's backlash, stating "They punish me but not the person involved," is expected to intensify the internal conflict.

After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Party Leader Kim said to reporters, "It is customary that standing advisors are not current politicians or incumbent local government heads," adding, "We normalized the position accordingly."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Photo by Yonhap News

Kim said, "Is it even conceivable that a specific pastor exerts influence over the People Power Party and that the party leadership is watching their every move?" He added, "Recently, some individuals inside and outside the party have been engaging in excessive verbal disputes regarding our party leadership, which has gone too far." The 'specific pastor' refers to Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, and the 'individuals engaging in excessive verbal disputes' appear to refer to Mayor Hong.

Earlier, Mayor Hong strongly demanded a 'cut-off' from Pastor Jeon and disciplinary action against Kim Jae-won after Kim's series of gaffes, including opposing the inclusion of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in the constitutional preamble, calling for a "right-wing unification under Jeon Gwang-hoon," and referring to the Jeju 4.3 incident as a "low-level memorial day." He criticized the party leadership's lukewarm response.

Party Leader Kim targeted Mayor Hong, saying, "Those in charge of local government administration should focus on that work," to which Mayor Hong retorted, "That is a truly absurd remark from the party leader," escalating the conflict between the two sides.

Regarding his dismissal that day, Mayor Hong protested, saying, "They are taking out their frustrations on the wrong person." On his Facebook, he wrote, "Does that mean I will just leave the party, which is going astray, unattended and watch silently?" He pointedly asked, "There are more than one or two party members who criticize the party; why not discipline all of them as well?"

He continued, "They punish me but not the person involved? At this rate, why not appoint the pastor who uses abusive language as a standing advisor?" and criticized, "The party is becoming truly absurd."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As the party leadership dismissed Mayor Hong, attention is focused on whether Kim Jae-won will be referred to the Central Party Ethics Committee. On the same day, the People Power Party Supreme Council appointed lawyer Hwang Jeong-geun as the chair of the Central Ethics Committee. Kim said, "The Ethics Committee independently decides on agenda items and proceeds accordingly," adding, "The party leader cannot intervene. I expect the Ethics Committee to make an independent judgment."

Meanwhile, former party leader Lee Jun-seok, whose party membership was suspended due to Ethics Committee disciplinary action, defended Mayor Hong. On his Facebook that day, Lee criticized, "In political parties, if a member has even a slightly different opinion, they are not only beaten with the Ethics Committee's cudgel but now even face dismissal from standing advisor positions."