"Not Hongkacola but Shinkacola"... Lee Jun-seok "From the Party Spokesperson's Mouth"

Criticism of Lee Jun-seok Following Spokesperson Yeo's Claims
Lee Jun-seok: "Please Stop Begging for a Pardon"

Park Jeong-ha, the senior spokesperson of the People Power Party, criticized Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo by calling him 'Swin Coca-Cola,' prompting former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok to voice his disapproval.

On the 30th, Lee posted on his Facebook, saying, "Even if it’s directed at me, it’s unacceptable to say that to Mayor Hong," and questioned, "Does it make sense for a party spokesperson to say something like 'Swin Coca-Cola'?"

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is speaking at the People Power Party-Daegu Metropolitan City Budget Policy Council held at the National Assembly on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee emphasized his negative stance again regarding the party innovation committee’s 'No. 1 agenda' of recommending a disciplinary pardon, saying, "'Please grant me a pardon'?stop that already; it’s petty and embarrassing."

Previously, Lee and Mayor Hong clashed with the party over the People Power Party Innovation Committee’s plan for a 'mass pardon.' At the first meeting on the 27th, the innovation committee set the top agenda as a 'mass pardon for party unity' and decided to recommend lifting the disciplinary suspensions of Mayor Hong, Lee, and others to the party leadership. However, those involved opposed the pardon recommendation.

Lee criticized the announcement of the mass pardon, saying, "Approaching this as if bestowing generosity only worsens the situation."

Mayor Hong also expressed discomfort, stating, "A pardon is for those who have committed crimes. I have not committed any crime." Through a series of posts, he made passionate remarks such as, "What kind of major election can you incompetent few who divide and exclude manage?", "Do you have the capability to lead a general election as a four-term representative in the Yeongnam home turf?", and "My temper exploded because of the nonsense about pardons that only the president can grant."

In this context, senior spokesperson Park Jeong-ha mocked Mayor Hong’s nickname 'Hong Coca-Cola' by calling it 'Swin Coca-Cola' and urged restraint.

After the National Assembly’s highest committee meeting on the 30th, Park said, "Regarding Mayor Hong, I want to ask if he still thinks there was no problem with playing golf during the heavy rain and severe flooding in July, and whether he has heard the opinion of the ethics committee at that time," adding, "Mayor Hong posted a lot over the weekend, and some comments said, 'I thought it was Hong Coca-Cola, but it’s Swin Coca-Cola.'"