Hong Jun-pyo Fires Direct Shot at Lee Jae-myung... "A Troublemaker Who Could Turn Suddenly"

"We Are Not Foolish Enough to Serve as a Criminal President"

On the 15th, Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, sharply criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "You are nothing but a hooligan who can turn violent at any moment."

On the same day, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "Seeing a hooligan who once held the National Assembly hostage now say they will cooperate for national stability makes me think they truly underestimate the people." This appears to be a pointed response to Lee’s remarks at a National Assembly press conference held that day. At the press conference, Lee stated, "The Democratic Party will strive for national stability and the restoration of international trust," and proposed "the formation of a national stability consultative body involving both the National Assembly and the government for the normalization of state affairs."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu. Yonhap News Agency

Mayor Hong continued, "The people of the Republic of Korea are not foolish enough to welcome a criminal and hooligan as president," adding, "They will not allow the creation of another leftist paradise." He also raised his voice, saying, "Time is not on your side but on ours. Just wait and see. The world does not move forward by conspiracy alone."

Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is speaking at a press conference held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the previous day, Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, expressed some concerns about the prominent presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung in an interview with BBC Korea. Lee Jun-seok said, "In the opposition camp, which holds about 190 seats, if Yoon Seok-youl disappears, it could pose another threat to the people," and pointed out, "If a president comes from the Democratic Party, there is no way to repeal or block excessive legislation or the declaration of martial law." He further criticized, "I am somewhat concerned about Lee Jae-myung as well. Because of his criminal risks, he mobilized party forces to attempt impeachment against the prosecutors who investigated and indicted him," adding, "Resorting to any means necessary sometimes means being no different from Yoon Seok-youl."

On the other hand, at the National Assembly press conference, Lee Jae-myung said, "Now the ruling party has disappeared, and there is no opposition party either. Previously, a member of the People Power Party exercised executive power as the president of the Republic of Korea, but now that president’s duties are suspended," and added, "Since the president is gone, we are returning to a neutral state." He continued, "If the People Power Party previously made political judgments to protect their party-affiliated president, now, as just a member of the National Assembly and the second-largest party, there is no reason not to cooperate toward the common goals of national stability and recovery of people’s livelihoods," emphasizing, "If they do not cooperate, they have no reason to exist as a political party."