Hong Jun-pyo on claims that "This is all because of Yoon": "It's all in the past... We need to start anew"

Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo Continues Harsh Criticism After General Election Defeat
"It Was Ruined Because of Yoon" Claims Met with "That's All in the Past"

Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, who has been continuing his harsh criticism regarding the ruling party's total defeat in the general election by saying, "Everyone responsible in the party and government should be promptly sorted out," responded to the claim that "the conservative camp has already collapsed since Yoon Seok-yeol became the presidential candidate" by saying, "That is all in the past."

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

On the 11th, a post titled "The reason why the People Power Party was wiped out in the metropolitan area" was uploaded on 'Dream of Youth,' an online community established by Mayor Hong during his tenure as a member of the 21st National Assembly. The author, Mr. A, began by saying, "I don't particularly like Hong Joon-pyo, but if he had become president, he might have respected or appointed Lee Jun-seok."

Mr. A claimed, "The discomfort Lee Jun-seok felt has ultimately proven true," and added, "The conservative camp has been doomed since President Yoon became the presidential candidate." He further criticized, "The reason the People Power Party lost in the metropolitan area is because they betrayed public sentiment," and concluded, "As expected, the world flows according to natural order."

Mayor Hong commented on the post, saying, "That is all in the past." Earlier, on the 9th, a day before the general election's main voting day, in the same community, when asked, "There are reports that Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform New Party, has caught up significantly with Democratic Party candidate Gong Young-woon. If Lee is elected, should we join forces?" he replied, "If he is elected, we should join forces again." This is interpreted as Mayor Hong's hope that Lee will return to the People Power Party after the general election and play a role.

On the same day, Mayor Hong posted on his social media, pouring criticism related to the April 10 general election while encouraging the defeated ruling party by saying, "Let's start again." He said, "We humbly accept this unprecedented defeat and let us start again on the ruined ground. Tomorrow, the sun will rise again. DJ (former President Kim Dae-jung) once achieved a regime change with 79 seats. Fortunately, many senior members who will lead the party have been elected, which is a relief," and added, "Let's not scatter but unite our strength and stand up again."