Hong Jun-pyo: "Han Dong-hoon Suspected of Posting Defamatory Comments About President Yoon and His Wife... Like Myeong Tae-gyun and Druking"

"Speak Your Mind Confidently and Don't Whisper Secretly in Hiding"

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo criticized the controversy over posts allegedly criticizing President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee under the names of People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon and his family, saying, "Manipulating public opinion like that is no different from Myung Tae-gyun, Kim Kyung-soo, and Druking."

On the 20th, Mayor Hong posted on his social media (SNS), "The essence of the controversy on the party members' bulletin board is not 'anyone can say such things,'" adding, "If the party leader's family did such a thing, it lies in the cowardice and baseness of hiding and slandering the presidential couple and senior members with abusive language."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, giving a greeting. Photo by Yonhap News

Mayor Hong criticized the anonymous posting on SNS. He said, "Why did they do such a despicable act anonymously, hiding behind the scenes instead of openly criticizing?" and added, "Seeing the lemmings who defend that is truly pitiful, pathetic, and shabby." He continued, "Manipulating public opinion like that is no different from Myung Tae-gyun, Kim Kyung-soo, and Druking," and said, "Let's do politics with some dignity. Speak out confidently and don't whisper behind people's backs."

Mayor Hong also said, "Putting aside the grand discourse that the ruling party is preparing for Trump’s second term, what kind of nonsense is this?" and emphasized, "I hope the party promptly reports the facts of the matter to party members and the public and takes appropriate measures."

Meanwhile, earlier, posts criticizing President Yoon and First Lady Kim under the names of Leader Han and his family appeared on the People Power Party members' bulletin board, sparking controversy. Some pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) factions are raising their voices, demanding that the truth of this suspicion be clarified through party audits and investigations.