Kim Geon-hee Agreed with Yoon on Bulletproof Controversy
Then Criticized by Supporters Too
Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo recently strongly refuted criticisms that he was defending President Yoon Seok-yeol, who carried out high-level prosecutorial personnel changes ahead of the investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee.
On the 15th, Mayor Hong left a comment on a post titled "It is hard to agree with the message that seems to sympathize with protecting the First Lady" on the online communication platform Cheongnyeon-ui Kkum (Youth's Dream), saying, "This is not a message shielding anyone but a common-sense approach," and added, "Once you start hating a person, there is no end to it."
The post stated, "I am writing this because I have seen enough. I understand well the intention to defend President Yoon who is trying to protect his wife, First Lady Kim," but also criticized, "Even as a fervent supporter of the People Power Party and Mayor Hong like myself, I find it hard to agree with messages that seem to sympathize with protecting the First Lady." It added, "Probably the majority of the public feels the same," and wrote, "As someone who hopes Mayor Hong will govern this country, I wish the messages related to the First Lady would be a bit more cautious."
Earlier, when criticism arose mainly from the opposition that the government's high-level prosecutorial personnel changes were a 'shielding measure' for the investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee, Mayor Hong responded, "If it were you, would you throw your own woman to a pack of hyenas just because the legality is still under investigation and unclear, just to keep her in place?"
In response, Kang Yoo-jung, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, said in a written briefing, "In a situation where public outrage is boiling, Mayor Hong posted on his social media, 'Can someone who cannot even protect his own woman protect the lives and property of 50 million people?' which is an absurd statement," and criticized, "Trying to gain favor with Yoon’s heart, or rather Kim’s heart (referring to First Lady Kim Geon-hee), he is instead marked by public sentiment."
Spokesperson Kang raised her voice, saying, "Mayor Hong’s remarks are inappropriate for the president who holds the greatest power in the Republic of Korea," and added, "For the president to ignore equality before the law and become a ‘Joseon-era lover’ who shields his wife is nothing but the privatization of power." She also emphasized, "Mayor Hong’s nonsensical remarks are merely distorted self-politics that fail to read the public’s anger," and "They only confirm the public’s suspicion that the president is interfering in investigations and personnel matters to protect his own woman, thereby fueling anger."
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