Hong Junpyo: "I Will Follow Only the People Like Roh Moo-hyun in 2002"

Criticizing the Party’s Atmosphere Over “Han Ducksoo Unification”
Differentiating Himself by Referring to Former President Roh Moohyun

Hong Junpyo, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, appeared to target the unsettled atmosphere within the party caused by the proposal to draft Acting President Han Ducksoo, referring to some as "people blinded by party power" and mentioning President Roh Moo-hyun. On the 28th, Hong posted on his social networking service (SNS), saying, "I dream of the 2002 Roh Moo-hyun presidential election, but it seems others are fighting the 2007 Chung Dongyoung presidential election." He continued, "There are people who are blinded only by party power rather than the presidential election. I feel like I'm fighting the presidential race alone at high altitude," adding, "Still, I will walk my own path."

Hong Joonpyo, the People Power Party presidential primary candidate, appeared to target the unsettled atmosphere within the party caused by the proposal to draft Acting President Han Ducksoo, referring to them as "people blinded by party power" and mentioning President Roh Moo-hyun. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He further stated, "Just like candidate Roh Moo-hyun, who, even after becoming the party’s candidate, agreed to unify with candidate Chung Mongjoon due to resistance from vested interests within the party, and like Roh Moo-hyun, who fought alone against the dominant Lee Hoi-chang narrative, I will quietly walk my own path, looking only to the people." Hong added, "When I was governor of South Gyeongsang Province, I once visited the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun and apologized to Mrs. Kwon Yangsook, asking for her understanding for having acted as a political adversary and critic of Roh Moo-hyun." Hong's repeated references to Roh Moo-hyun are seen as an attempt to differentiate himself by highlighting the image of the former president, especially as the current election landscape remains unfavorable due to the impeachment situation, the proposal to draft Han as acting president, and ongoing discussions about candidate unification. Hong also remarked, "Even if, like President Roh Moo-hyun, I do not become president, my life will not have been a failure."

On the 26th, presidential primary candidates of the People Power Party are taking a commemorative photo before the debate at the 2nd primary candidate debate held at the Maeil Business Newspaper Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the left, Ahn Cheolsoo, Han Donghoon, Kim Moonsu, Hong Junpyo, primary candidates. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Association, Yonhap News Agency

Subsequently, Hong continued to criticize Han Ducksoo, Kim Moonsu, and Han Donghoon through additional SNS posts. He questioned, "Is it reasonable for a prime minister or minister from an impeached administration to run for president? Is it reasonable for the party leader of an impeached administration to run for president?" He added, "The Democratic Party is questioning the very act of the ruling party of an impeached administration nominating a presidential candidate," and emphasized, "I intend to frame this presidential election as a competition between Hong Junpyo's nation and Lee Jaemyung's nation."

With just one day left before the announcement of the People Power Party's second primary results, a poll showed that Kim Moonsu and Han Donghoon were leading in support among both party supporters and undecided voters, ranking first and second, respectively. The second primary will determine the two candidates who advance to the final round. According to a poll conducted by Realmeter on 1,505 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide, commissioned by Energy Economy Newspaper from the 23rd to the 25th and released on the 29th, Lee Jaemyung led the poll on suitability as the next presidential candidate of both ruling and opposition parties, with 48.5%. This was a decrease of 1.7 percentage points from the previous week's 50.2%. Kim Moonsu, the People Power Party presidential primary candidate, ranked second with 13.4%. Hong Junpyo (10.2%), Han Donghoon (9.7%), Lee Junseok (4.4%), and Ahn Cheolsoo (2.5%) followed.