Hong Junpyo, Who Retired from Politics, Says "Cheongsan Byeolgok Comes to Mind"
"Now That I Am Free from Restrictions and Conflict, I Feel at Peace"
Hong Junpyo, former Daegu Mayor who was eliminated from the People Power Party's presidential primary, spoke about his feelings regarding his retirement from politics on the rainy 1st, saying, "I feel I must also wash away the bad karma I accumulated in the political world."
On this day, which marked the second day since he declared his retirement from politics and his departure from the party, Hong wrote on Facebook, "On this rainy holiday morning, I am reminded of 'Cheongsan Byeolgok.'" Cheongsan Byeolgok is a Goryeo-era song expressing a longing for life in nature and a desire to escape from the secular world.
On the 29th, at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo closes his eyes after being eliminated at the announcement event for the candidates advancing to the 3rd round of the 21st presidential election primary of the People Power Party. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
He said, "Listening to 'Gong' by Nahuna, I feel I should contemplate the affairs of the world," and added, "Now that I have freed myself from restrictions and conflict, I feel at peace."
He also referred to "Sangseon Yaksoo," a phrase from Laozi's Tao Te Ching, reflecting on the idea that the most ideal life is one that is humble, flexible, and altruistic like water. This is interpreted as his intention to let go of political conflict and fruitless confrontation and to live a more peaceful life.
Hong was eliminated in the second round of the People Power Party's presidential primary on April 29. Immediately after the primary, he declared his retirement from politics and his departure from the party, stating, "This is as far as my role goes in this presidential election. Now, I will return to being a citizen. I will live comfortably as a private individual."
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo declared his resignation from the People Power Party and his retirement from politics immediately after being eliminated in the second round of the party's presidential primary on the 29th of last month. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Association
The next day on Facebook, reflecting on his 30-year political career, he recalled, "At the strong urging of YS (the late former President Kim Youngsam), I joined the conservative party, served five terms as a National Assembly member, and three terms as a metropolitan mayor, but as someone without a faction, I was always an outsider in the conservative party." He went on to explain the background of his decision to retire from politics, saying, "After seeing the results of the primary, I thought that if I continued in politics, I would only end up disgracing myself."
He added, "There is no longer any role for me in the party, and I no longer have any justification to remain in politics," and continued, "I will live a new life. I hope to live in a world without conflict and division."
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