"Gamangeopneundang" vs "Get Out Quickly"... Hong Jun-pyo vs Pro-Yoon Faction, Growing Emotional Conflict

Mayor Hong Expresses Discomfort Day After Day
"Pestering the One Who Ruined the General Election"

Conflicts within the People Power Party are intensifying. Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo sharply stated, "If a rookie party leader is chosen again, this party has no future," prompting some pro-Yoon lawmakers to retort, "Then leave sooner."

Mayor Hong has repeatedly expressed discomfort targeting former Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon. In a post on Facebook on the 21st, he referred to Han as a 'kid' and strongly criticized him, saying, "Seeing everyone bowing and fawning before the kid who drove us to hell made me feel this party has no conscience."

He added, "What’s even more outrageous is some factions within the party cozying up to the kid who ruined the general election," and said, "I believe this party has no future. The party needs self-sustainability to stand strong, but how can it survive when so-called senior members are just watching the kid’s every move?"

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

Mayor Hong also said, "Have some shame. The party that should have disappeared during Park Geun-hye’s impeachment was revived, yet it still flounders without a clear mind," and suggested, "If there’s no confidence anymore, wouldn’t it be better to dissolve the party and start anew?"

Earlier, he mentioned his own 'position issue.' On the 20th, in a reply on his communication channel 'Youth’s Dream,' Hong said, "If a rookie party leader is chosen again, this party has no future, and I might decide my own position," adding, "Rather than a party shamelessly bowing to the kid who drove us to hell, starting fresh is the only hope."

A post by Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party. [Image source=Facebook capture]

As Mayor Hong’s criticism of the ruling party grows stronger, backlash within the party is also increasing. Park Soo-young, a People Power Party lawmaker considered part of the pro-Yoon faction, responded on her personal social media on the afternoon of the 21st, saying, "Mayor Hong, you can leave sooner if you want. No one will follow you."

Lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu from the same party also appeared on TV Chosun’s YouTube channel and requested restraint, saying, "(Mayor Hong) should reduce remarks that cause discord within the party."

Lawyer Seo Jung-wook, who is active as a ruling party support panelist, also criticized Mayor Hong on Channel A radio’s 'Political Signal' that day. He pointed out, "It’s a very inappropriate act," and said, "I don’t understand whether he means to create his own party, join Lee Jun-seok’s reformist party, or go independent when he talks about starting fresh."