Hong Jun-pyo "Without Opposition, It Is Not Politics"
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who is at odds with former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon, stated, "I am not afraid of debate."
On the 22nd, Mayor Hong said on his Facebook, "If anyone is judged to be worth debating, I will respond."
He said, "Many people worry about getting hurt and tell me to ignore it, but nowadays, if you don't present a counterargument, it often becomes accepted as a fact, so I try to settle disputes whenever possible." He added, "Politics is not politics without opposition. However, when that opposition cannot present reasoning, it is just opposition for the sake of opposition," and said, "Most of the debates I raise are based on facts."
Mayor Hong said, "I do not speak based on rumors like ordinary people," and "I do not engage in 견강부회 like some politicians." '견강부회' means twisting illogical words to suit oneself advantageously. Finally, Mayor Hong said, "If you are afraid of debate, you are not qualified to do politics," and "That is why I enjoy debate."
'Dismissal of Party Withdrawal Rumors' Hong Joon-pyo: "Talk of Leaving the Party is Out of the Question"
Former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, Mayor Hong posted a message that was interpreted as suggesting he might leave the party if former Chairman Han became party leader, but after criticism within the party, he posted a clarification.
On Facebook that day, Mayor Hong said, "I have been the root that has protected and revived this party for over 30 years, so talk of leaving the party is out of the question," adding, "The only time I would leave the party is when I retire from politics." He continued, "The party was once taken over by candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, so why should it be taken over again by a kid who tormented us so badly while trusting Moon Jae-in?" and said, "I pointed out that if the party is so ungrateful, it should be dissolved and restarted, as that is the way to revive Korea's traditional conservative party."
This followed Mayor Hong's criticism on the 20th on his online communication platform 'Youth's Dream' of former Chairman Han's candidacy for the party leadership election, saying, "If a rookie becomes party leader again, this party has no future, and I might decide my own position." Mayor Hong's remarks were interpreted as meaning that he would leave the party if former Chairman Han, considered a leading candidate for party leadership, became party leader.
In response, criticism arose within the ruling party against Mayor Hong. People Power Party lawmaker Park Soo-young wrote on his Facebook on the 21st, "Mayor Hong, you can leave even sooner. No one will follow you." People Power Party lawmaker Cho Hae-jin also appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 22nd and said, "If you dislike (former Chairman Han), you should come out and compete and win," adding, "Continuously throwing chili powder at juniors instead of doing that is petty for someone who has served as the party floor leader, party leader, and presidential candidate."
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