Hong Jun-pyo's Sharp Remark: "If You Want to Imprison Moon, Do It with Appropriate Charges"

"Not in line with the principle of proportionality in investigation" Criticism of the prosecution
"First Lady's activities, President Yoon should be sanctioned" Advice also given

Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, sharply criticized the prosecution's investigation into former President Moon Jae-in, saying, "If it is an investigation into the corruption of a former president, conduct an investigation befitting that status." On the 19th, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "During the last presidential primary, I pointed out that the investigation into the Cho Kuk family was an excessive investigation and was fiercely criticized as 'JoGukSooHong' (a derogatory term)." He said, "Typically, in family-related criminal investigations, the principle is to investigate only one or two representative individuals, but the Cho Kuk investigation was a family-wide extermination investigation," adding, "I pointed out that it was an excessive investigation, but some groups swarmed like hornets and slandered me over it."

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo held a press conference on the 11th at the Sangyeok Office of Daegu Metropolitan City Hall in Buk-gu, Daegu, explaining local issues.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He continued, "I had no reason to side with Cho Kuk and was merely stating the principle of investigation, but seeing some camps engage in emotional slander rather than rational criticism, I thought the factional logic had gone too far." Then Mayor Hong emphasized, "This investigation into Moon Jae-in is based on the exact same logic," stating, "Were there no state secrets in the USB handed over to Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom? Was the nuclear power plant shutdown not a policy that prevented future plutonium production and benefited North Korea? There are many acts close to national crimes, but all those are being buried, and only the acts of helping his daughter are being singled out for investigation, which does not align with the principle of proportionality in investigations."

Furthermore, Mayor Hong said, "I have no reason to side with former President Moon Jae-in, and I also hope he goes to prison, but even if he is to be sent, shouldn't it be for charges befitting him?" He criticized Moon as well, saying, "It is not socially just for someone who harshly oppressed us under the frame of state affairs manipulation to spend his retirement comfortably in Yangsan."

Earlier, on the night of the 16th, Mayor Hong appeared on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Match' and took a jab at First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who recently resumed public activities. He said, "Even if it is frustrating, now is not the time to come out or engage in public activities," urging restraint. He added, "We should view (Kim's activities) positively, but due to various controversies, the public does not see it positively and views it maliciously," pointing out, "Engaging in public activities now could make things harder for the people."

In particular, Mayor Hong emphasized that President Yoon should step in to restrain Kim's activities, saying, "There probably isn't an aide who can advise on that (Kim's issues)," adding, "All past presidents have been like that." He then cited the example of former First Lady Kim Jung-sook's visit to India during Moon Jae-in's presidency. "Could President Moon have stopped (Kim Jung-sook) from taking the presidential plane alone to visit the Taj Mahal?" he said, predicting that it would also be difficult for President Yoon to advise his wife.