Hong Joon-pyo, Recommended by Lee Jun-seok for Prime Minister: "I Didn't Come Down to Daegu for That"

Lee Jun-seok "Should Boldly Appoint Successor Prime Minister... Recommends Mayor Hong"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party who was elected in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province in the April 10 general election, recommended Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, as the successor to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who expressed his intention to resign. However, Mayor Hong declined the offer.

On the 12th, a post appeared on 'Cheongnyeon-ui Kkum' (Youth's Dream), a platform operated by Mayor Hong, stating, "It seems that Leader Lee believes Mayor Hong should step up. Mayor, you won't be going up to Seoul, right? Just in case you might change your mind." In response, Mayor Hong replied, "I didn't come down to Daegu to become Prime Minister." He also responded to a similar comment with, "You don't need to worry."

The day before, Leader Lee proposed Mayor Hong as the next Prime Minister. Through his Facebook, he said, "The biggest problem with the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is that the president, who was expected to be candid, straightforward, and decisive in front of the people, hides and wastes time whenever something happens." He added, "For the government, which feels like it has eaten 100 sweet potatoes, to attract the interest of the younger generation, the successor to Prime Minister Han Duck-soo must be appointed boldly." He continued, "One way is to appoint Mayor Hong, who is praised by the younger generation for being refreshing, as Prime Minister and share a significant portion of state affairs."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu (left), and Lee Jun-seok, Representative of the Reform New Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Leader Lee defeated Gong Young-woon, the Democratic Party candidate, in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province by 2.68 percentage points (3,278 votes), with 42.41% to 39.73%. After the election was confirmed, Leader Lee stated at a press conference, "Although the number of seats may be somewhat small, I will engage in a different level of parliamentary activities to point out the wrong aspects of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration."

Mayor Hong also sent congratulations on Leader Lee's election news. When a citizen wrote on 'Cheongnyeon-ui Kkum', "Mayor, you said there was no place nationwide where Lee Jun-seok could be elected in his constituency, but Lee broke that and was elected, showing he is indeed clever as you said," Mayor Hong replied, "Still, he is a decent politician. Congratulations on your election." This seems to point out the situation where Mayor Hong advised Leader Lee to run as a proportional representative instead of in a constituency, but Leader Lee did not listen.

Additionally, on the 9th, when a supporter asked, "If Leader Lee gets elected, should we join forces?" Mayor Hong replied, "If he gets elected, we will have to join forces again."