Jogeuk Innovation Party to Hong Jun-pyo: "Delusion of Becoming President with Park Jeong-hee Statue"

Hong Jun-pyo "Picking All Kinds of Fights"

The Innovation Party harshly criticized Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu who hinted at a future presidential bid, saying he is "deluded into thinking he can become president by installing a statue of Park Chung-hee."

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is giving a greeting speech at the 'Park Chung-hee Statue Unveiling Ceremony' held at Dongdaegu Station Plaza on the afternoon of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 23rd, Mayor Hong wrote on Facebook, "I was pushing forward Daegu Innovation 100 Plus 1 with the mindset of only serving as Daegu mayor for four years and then graduating," adding, "Now that I feel that period might come sooner, I am becoming impatient." He also said, "I am a nomad. Daegu is the 23rd place I have moved to since I was born," and "I thought I had come full circle back to where I started, but the thought of having to move again makes the end of the year unsettling."

He continued, "Elected positions are just passing winds anyway," and said, "Having wandered around South Korea 23 times like a nomad, I have always thought my country is a truly good place to live. I hope the chaos will soon stabilize and be resolved." Mayor Hong took office as Daegu mayor in July 2022 and still has a term until 2026. Political circles speculate that his remarks may be aimed at an early presidential election and a possible presidential run.

On the same day, the Innovation Party urged an immediate halt to the installation of the 'Park Chung-hee statue at Dongdaegu Station,' criticizing, "Mayor Hong seems to be deluded into thinking he can become president through the installation of the statue." Cha Gyu-geun, chairman of the Innovation Party's Daegu branch, emphasized in a statement, "Dongdaegu Station is a public square open not only to Daegu citizens but to people nationwide, and the attempt to erect a statue of a dictator is an outrageous act that undermines democracy." He added, "Park Chung-hee was the mastermind of the 1961 military coup and a primary instigator of treason," and criticized, "Mayor Hong remains completely silent about Park Chung-hee's treason crimes and only unilaterally emphasizes his 'achievements.'"

The Innovation Party warned that if Mayor Hong proceeds with installing the Park Chung-hee statue, Daegu will become a city commemorating a dictator, leaving an indelible wound on Daegu citizens who cherish democracy.

Regarding this, Mayor Hong expressed his position, saying, "Recently, there was an unveiling ceremony for a massive 8-meter statue of Park Chung-hee in the Millennium Forest of Andong Gyeongbuk Provincial Office, but no one raised any objections there. It is regrettable that only the unveiling ceremony for the Park Chung-hee statue promoted by Daegu City is being nitpicked and criticized," asserting that there is no problem with the Park Chung-hee statue unveiling ceremony.