Hong Jun-pyo: "If the Party Leader Clashes with Yoon, the Regime Will Collapse"

Party Leader, Despite Full Authority, Cannot Be Someone Who Suffers Crushing Defeat in General Election
Former Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon Criticizes Relentlessly

Hong Joon-pyo, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, is announcing his pledge for a major reform in defense and security at the election camp in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 26th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, ahead of the People Power Party's July 23 leadership election, claimed that the condition for the party leader is "someone who does not oppose the president."

On the 2nd, Mayor Hong stated on Facebook, "(This party leader) must be someone who can walk alongside the president," adding, "If there is opposition, both the administration and the party will fail."

Mayor Hong pointed out the limitations of an out-of-office party leader. He said, "(Regarding the limitations) I experienced them keenly in 2017," and added, "The leader must have the capability to take responsibility for local elections. Someone who held full authority yet suffered a crushing defeat in the general election is unacceptable." He also said, "Candidates who must resign midway to run for president are not acceptable," and "Since we need to move to an emergency committee system, such candidates should not be elected." This appears to be a criticism directed at former People Power Party emergency committee member Han Dong-hoon.

Mayor Hong has repeatedly declined meeting requests from former committee member Han and has been continuously targeting him. On the 30th of last month, he posted on his Facebook, "When Lee Hoi-chang abandoned YS (Kim Young-sam), we walked the path of opposition for 10 years. When the Democratic Party abandoned Roh Moo-hyun, they also walked the path of opposition for 10 years," and criticized former committee member Han by saying, "Whether they like it or not, the ruling party must support the president, but the main culprit of the general election defeat is once again trying to take a different path from the president with some amateur leftists."