Hong Junpyo Targets Kwon Youngse and Kwon Seongdong: "The Party Was Doomed Since Yoon Sukyeol Was Brought In"

Unprecedented Conflict Between Kim Moonsoo and People Power Party Leadership
Hong Junpyo: "The Party Is Sinking Into a Quagmire Due to Absurd Actions"
Lee Junseok: "Hong Knows Specific Circumstances of Yoon Sukyeol's Involvement"

As Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, faces extreme internal conflict within the party over his unification negotiations with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo sharply criticized Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Youngse and Floor Leader Kwon Seongdong, saying, "You will be punished by heaven." On May 8, through social media, Hong stated, "Ever since those two brought Yoon Sukyeol into the party three years ago, the party has been doomed, and now, once again, the party is sinking into a quagmire because of their absurd actions."

On the 29th of last month, candidate Hong Junpyo is moving at the announcement event for the third round of the People Power Party's 21st presidential candidate primary held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Hong Junpyo, who was eliminated from the People Power Party’s presidential primary, had previously announced his retirement from politics and his intention to move to the United States. However, as the conflict between candidate Kim and the party leadership surfaced, he revealed details about what he experienced during the primary. On the previous day, Hong wrote on social media, "When I first entered the primary, I secured the support of 48 National Assembly members and about 70 heads of local party chapters, and I was also ahead in public opinion, so I thought I would easily win a majority in the second round. However, when Yongsan and the party leadership suddenly promoted Han Ducksoo and tried to turn the impeachment election into a 'vote of confidence for Yoon Sukyeol,' I was skeptical, wondering, 'Would they really commit such an obviously losing act?'"

Hong continued, "But as that scenario became reality, Kim Moonsoo started calling himself 'Kim Deoksu' (Kim Moonsoo + Han Ducksoo), and both Yongsan and the party leadership were plotting to support Kim Moonsoo, whom they considered easy to control, and eliminate me, Hong Junpyo, who would be an obstacle to Han Ducksoo. My supporters quickly shifted to supporting Kim Moonsoo, and suddenly, Kim Moonsoo rose to first place in party member support. I found this out four days before the second round of the primary."

Kwon Youngse, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, and Kwon Seongdong, Floor Leader, are attending the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He added, "Kim Moonsoo took advantage of their sinister scheme, and from that point, I no longer wanted to be part of this dirty game. But why is Kim Moonsoo being criticized? Why is Han Ducksoo, who aimed for a free ride and volunteered to be Yoon Sukyeol's avatar, not being criticized? Is it wrong for Kim Moonsoo to turn your sinister scheme to his advantage? Was what you did justifiable?" In this way, he defended Kim Moonsoo’s position amid the party’s internal conflict.

He also said, "Are you trying to ruin the party and the Korean conservative bloc after already ruining the country?" He continued, "Even if you lose, you must lose with justification. Only then will you have grounds to rise again." He further criticized, "You are not an ideological group but merely an interest group, and that is why the British Tory Party disappeared. Yoon Sukyeol is ruining the country and now the party as well. The party and the country are suffering because you brought in the wrong mercenary."

In relation to this, Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, said in a YTN Radio 'News Fighting' interview, "I heard that former Mayor Hong will be leaving for the United States around the 10th, so I called him after a long time to check in. I can't share the details of our conversation, but I could tell that Hong knows specific circumstances regarding former President Yoon’s involvement in the presidential election. I could understand why Hong was so angry and why he had no choice but to leave the party."

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, and Han Ducksoo, an independent presidential preliminary candidate, are greeting each other after completing their second meeting for candidate unification at Sarangjae, National Assembly, on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Meanwhile, candidate Kim and former Prime Minister Han held their second round of negotiations for candidate unification at Sarangjae, National Assembly, at 4:30 p.m. on the same day, but only repeated their differences over the timing of unification. Candidate Kim said, "Why are you presenting a bill to someone who went through the entire People Power Party primary, paid all the fees, and completed every procedure, just because you showed up late?" In response, candidate Han said, "This is not a bill. How could I present a bill? Considering the overall situation of the country and the hopes of the people and party members, which are almost like a command, I truly believe that delaying by a week or so is not proper etiquette."