"Yoon, Popular with Japanese Women... Hong Joon-pyo's Reaction to 'Mobilizing Military to Protect Wife is Touching'"

"Yoon, Most Popular Among Japanese Women These Days," Hong Joon-pyo Says, "How Can a Man Who Can't Protect His Own Woman Protect the Lives of 50 Million People?" "Mrs. Kim Should Behave Like Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife. Photo by Yonhap News

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, cited 'the relocation of the presidential office,' 'prosecutor politics,' and 'the issue of First Lady Kim Keon-hee' as President Yoon Suk-yeol's mistakes. In an interview with Monthly Chosun on the 19th, Hong shared his thoughts on First Lady Kim Keon-hee in response to the host's remark that "President Yoon is extremely popular among Japanese women these days. They say, 'Where else would you find someone who even mobilizes the military to protect his wife?'"

Hong stated, "After the general election last April, when I was invited to the presidential residence, I advised restraint in First Lady Kim Keon-hee's activities." He added, "President Yoon came out with First Lady Kim Keon-hee," and at that moment, Hong said, "'How can a man who cannot protect his own woman protect the lives and property of 50 million people?' and also expressed, 'I hope Mrs. Kim behaves like Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook.'" When asked to clarify, Hong explained, "Mrs. Kwon Yang-sook only appeared in official settings during unavoidable circumstances throughout the five years of the Roh Moo-hyun administration and did not engage in external activities," indicating that his advice was intended to avoid controversies arising from Mrs. Kim's frequent public appearances.

"President Yoon's Most Fatal Mistakes... 'Relocation of the Presidential Office' and 'Prosecutor Politics'"

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News Agency, provided by the Presidential Office.

Along with this, Mayor Hong identified the 'relocation of the presidential office' as President Yoon's most fatal mistake. He criticized, "The Blue House is not just a 'seat of power' but a symbol of the Republic of Korea. Can one president move that symbol at will? It seems they moved because the Blue House site was considered unlucky, but if you do well after moving in, why is it necessary?" He continued, "Leaving the symbolic place of Korea and commuting from Yongsan, causing all sorts of controversies and traffic congestion?what kind of situation is this? When I visited the Yongsan presidential office, it was so poorly secured. Whoever becomes the next president will return to the Blue House," he emphasized.

When asked whose fault was greater in the dispute between President Yoon and former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, he said, "Both are the same," and sharply criticized, "Because President Yoon and former leader Han engaged in 'prosecutor politics,' the country ended up in this state." He added, "Roman philosopher Ulpian said, 'Justice is giving each his due.' This means giving the opposition party its share, bureaucrats their share, and lawmakers their share, but since everything is being seized and the prosecution is being mobilized to suppress, the country inevitably falls into chaos."

Mayor Hong also revealed that he proposed the introduction of a 'responsible prime minister system' to President Yoon twice, in August and October. He said, "When President Yoon called me in August, I told him that if domestic affairs were difficult, I would quit being mayor of Daegu and come up to help." He added, "I said, 'The president should focus only on diplomacy and defense. Introducing a responsible prime minister system in a dual executive government form is one way.'"

Hong explained that President Yoon responded that he would discuss it with Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok. Hong said, "Then it would become public. The president should announce it when he decides, but it needs to be done quickly." He also said, "Isn't it realistically difficult? I also told him to compromise with the opposition party." Later, Hong said, "I sent a text again in October, saying, 'It could become like Park Geun-hye,'" and added, "'Quickly introduce the responsible prime minister system and reform the government. Change the presidential office and completely reorganize the cabinet. Do it with new people like when you first took office. I will help you,'" he conveyed.