"If I Ever Conspired in a Crime with Myeong Taegyun, I Will Retire from Politics"
Says About the Democratic Party: "There Is Nothing to Quarrel About, So I Am at a Loss for Words"
On the 17th, as the Democratic Party of Korea continued its offensive urging a prosecution investigation into the so-called 'Myeong Taegyun Gate,' Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo claimed that the KakaoTalk conversation he had with Myeong Taegyun, which was made public, was just a "routine reply."
On the 17th, Mayor Hong posted on Facebook, "It is customary for anyone to send a routine reply when receiving a KakaoTalk message, so what crime is there in the content (of the KakaoTalk messages) that the Democratic Party disclosed?"
Mayor Hong raised his voice, saying, "I never said I didn't know Myeong Taegyun," and added, "I know him, but I have never kept such a swindler close to me."
He continued, "Is that all you could find after all that delay? Is that all there is? Keep revealing more," and said, "If I had conspired with Myeong Taegyun in any crime, I said I would retire from politics. Since there is nothing to quarrel about, I am at a loss for words."
The 'Myeong Taegyun Gate Truth Investigation Team' (led by Seo Young-kyo) also disclosed KakaoTalk messages exchanged between Mayor Hong and Mr. Myeong at a press conference that day. When asked by reporters on the 14th whether he had exchanged KakaoTalk messages with Mr. Myeong, Mayor Hong replied, "You will know once you dig into it." Subsequently, the investigation team released additional messages.
According to the investigation team, on December 5, 2021, Mr. Myeong sent a message to Mayor Hong saying, "Happy birthday," to which Mayor Hong replied, "Thank you." On July 10, 2023, Mr. Myeong sent a message saying, "Please take care of your health in this hot and humid weather," and Mayor Hong responded, "How is President Myeong doing these days?" Mr. Myeong replied, "Please take good care of your health."
The investigation team urged, "The prosecution should promptly summon and investigate Mayor Hong," and added, "Since such KakaoTalk conversations have come to light, Mayor Hong should retire from politics. He should also issue a public apology regarding the suspicions of a 'Hong Joon-pyo tailored' opinion poll and the payment of related costs by Mr. Myeong."
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