Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, has been continuously criticizing Han Dong-hoon, former emergency response committee member, as the possibility of Han running for the People Power Party’s leadership election is repeatedly mentioned. On the 21st, Mayor Hong stated on Facebook, "Seeing some factions within the party still eyeing the person who ruined the general election, I concluded that this party has no hope."
Mayor Hong said, "Since losing the party’s favor despite winning the public’s support during the last presidential primary, I started to lose faith," adding, "I had one last hope, but seeing everyone bowing and praising the person who dragged us into hell made me feel this party is utterly shameless."
The person Mayor Hong refers to as "the one who ruined the general election" and "the one who dragged us into hell" is interpreted to be former committee member Han. Since the defeat in the general election, Mayor Hong has emphasized Han’s responsibility and has been criticizing him daily.
He wrote, "The party needs self-sustainability to gain strength, but if so-called senior members keep watching Han’s every move, how can this party revive? They should feel ashamed."
He also pointed out, "The party that should have disappeared during the impeachment was revived, but it is still struggling without clear direction," and added, "If you have no confidence anymore, wouldn’t it be better to dissolve the party and start anew?"
On the previous day, Mayor Hong left a comment suggesting he might leave the party if Han becomes the party leader, in response to a supporter’s post titled ‘It seems like the sinking of the People Power Party is just a matter of time’ on his communication channel ‘Dream of Youth.’ He wrote, "If another rookie becomes party leader, this party has no hope, and I might decide my own position as well," adding, "Instead of shamelessly bowing to the person who dragged us into hell, starting fresh is the only hope."
Since rumors of Han’s candidacy for the party leadership surfaced, Mayor Hong has targeted Han with harsh expressions such as "rookie party leader" and "traitor to President Yoon Seok-yeol."
On the 17th, he wrote on Facebook, "It’s absurd that the person who blatantly caused a huge defeat by messing up the nominations is shamelessly praising himself," adding, "People who don’t understand politics or elections should never be given the nomination power. They should be deeply apologetic."
On the 19th, Mayor Hong strongly criticized Han and former nomination committee member Jung Young-hwan, saying, "Two rookies conspired and ruined the general election," and "I hope those shameless faces disappear from the political scene forever." This post has since been deleted.
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