Hong Ik-pyo: "Behavior Constituting Personal Defamation"... Caution Against 'Optimism for General Election'

Warning Against 'Arrogance' Yet Cautioning About 'Hurtful Words'
Kim Du-gwan Says "Out of Mind" on Jeong Dong-young's 200-Seat Prospect

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, urged party members on the 7th not to repeatedly cause harm through defamatory remarks via broadcasts, newspapers, YouTube broadcasts, SNS, etc., or to undermine party unity and trust. This is interpreted as an internal crackdown following criticism of lawmakers who recently expressed optimistic views on the general election both inside and outside the party.

At the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Floor Leader Hong said, "(Defamatory remarks) themselves can be seen as acts against the party in a broad sense."

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Earlier, Jeong Dong-young, a senior advisor, predicted in a media interview that "there is no law that says we cannot achieve 200 seats if we sweep the metropolitan area," and lawmakers Lee Tan-hee and former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk also expressed optimism by mentioning '200 seats for the pan-opposition coalition.'

In response, lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan recently posted on his social media (SNS), "There are some crazy people who talk about a 'landslide victory with 200 seats' even as a crisis approaches," and criticized, "It seems they have already forgotten that the 20-year ruling theory ended the regime in just five years." Park Ji-won, former director of the National Intelligence Service and senior advisor of the Democratic Party, also warned, "If you talk about optimism, the people will leave," adding, "We must be careful of intoxicated, arrogant, and rude behavior."

Floor Leader Hong tightened party discipline, saying, "The Democratic Party faces the crucial task of defending democracy against the arrogance and dogmatism of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and reviving the fading livelihood and economy." He especially emphasized, "The party leadership, including myself, has already forgotten the results of the Gangseo District Office election," and added, "We must find ways to protect the lives of the people more earnestly and humbly and find the path to victory in the general election."