Governor Kim Youngrok Says Hong Joonpyo's Presidential Bid Is "Just Like Yoon"

Governor Kim Directly Criticizes Hong Junpyo
"Ignoring Responsibility for Complicity in Rebellion"
"If You Are a True Conservative, Reflection Must Come First"

Just one day after the impeachment decision against former President Yoon Sukyeol, Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo announced his intention to run for president. In response, Jeonnam Governor Kim Youngrok strongly criticized Hong, stating, "Returning to politics without even a minimal apology to the people is like rubbing salt into a wound."

From the left, Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam, and Hong Junpyo, Mayor of Daegu. Screenshot from Facebook

On the 5th, Governor Kim posted on his Facebook, "Just a day after the Constitutional Court declared, 'The respondent, President Yoon Sukyeol, is dismissed,' Mayor Hong announced his candidacy for president, yet there was no apology or reflection regarding former President Yoon Sukyeol's martial law and complicity in the rebellion." He continued, "Even while declaring his presidential bid, he refuses to acknowledge past wrongdoings or take responsibility, showing no difference from Yoon Sukyeol."

Governor Kim referenced parts of Hong's statement, such as "The impeachment incident is now in the past" and "A day is enough for healing," and remarked, "He revealed his presidential ambitions as if he had been waiting for the impeachment decision, but his words were all noise with no substance." He further criticized, "For a senior figure in the conservative camp to show no sense of responsibility for the emergency martial law coup that devastated people's livelihoods and democracy is to deceive the public twice."

Governor Kim particularly emphasized that the economic pain following the impeachment crisis is being directly borne by the people. "With hundreds of local businesses collapsing and dozens of companies going bankrupt, how can anyone say 'a day is enough for healing'?" he asked. "Economic crisis, collapse of trade diplomacy, and a plummeting national reputation?without reflection on all this responsibility, the so-called 'passion of conservatives' cannot be genuine."

He further stated, "After the rebellion led by former President Yoon Sukyeol, our economy lost hundreds of trillions of won," and intensified his criticism by adding, "Yet, politicians in the conservative camp are only focused on maintaining their vested interests, even denying the historical significance of restoring democracy."

Governor Kim concluded, "If you call yourself a conservative, you must truly care about the people's livelihood. Destroying livelihoods and trampling on democracy, then putting personal ambition above responsibility, is just another form of political violence. If you truly want to prepare for the presidency, you must first sincerely apologize to the people. That is the true attitude of a conservative."

Meanwhile, Mayor Hong officially announced his presidential bid on Facebook the same day, saying, "There is no time to be swept up in impeachment controversies." He declared, "A day is enough for healing," and added, "We must go beyond the logic of extending the current administration and build a new Republic of Korea." He continued, "I have prepared for this as the final mission of my 30-year political career, and I will soon follow the necessary procedures to stand before the people."