Lee Junseok Criticizes Kwon Youngse: "Do You Have the Right to Talk About Hong Joonpyo's Character... Truly Rude"

Hong Joonpyo: "Severing Ties with a Party Impeached Twice"
Kwon Youngse: "Innate Character Cannot Be Changed"

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, criticized Kwon Youngse, former emergency committee chair of the People Power Party, who had criticized former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo. Lee said, "How absurd is it that they sent love calls, but now that he doesn't respond, they start talking about 'character'?"

On the 14th, Lee posted on his Facebook, "There is no difference from the time when I left the People Power Party and criticized its anti-civilization and mindlessness, and they collectively lynched me for being rude," expressing his criticism.

Earlier that day, former Mayor Hong stated on his online communication channel "Youth's Dream," "I cannot help but sever ties with a party that has been impeached twice. I once revived the party, but the second time I simply could not handle it, so I left. Now, in desperation, this despicable group is asking me to come back, but I am so disillusioned that I don't even want to go near them."

In response, former chair Kwon wrote on Facebook, "Someone who has run for president twice in this party, been elected as a metropolitan mayor twice, and elected as a National Assembly member multiple times should not act like this now. Perhaps innate character is something that cannot be helped."

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, is holding a focused campaign rally on the 13th at 2.28 Memorial Central Park in Jung-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, Lee said, "The group that staged a candidate replacement coup at 3 a.m. just because the candidate they had picked had no chance of winning is now loudly claiming that only that person can win, telling blatant lies that change from yesterday to today."

He continued, "Do they really have the right to talk about innate character to former Mayor Hong, who is a victim of a fraudulent primary? That is truly the height of rudeness."

Later, former chair Kwon shared Lee's Facebook post and responded, "I hope you work hard for the sake of the entire conservative camp. As a young politician, I hope to see you pursue justice and righteousness, even at a loss, rather than making political calculations."

Meanwhile, Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, reportedly asked former Mayor Hong to serve as the chief election campaign chairman, but Hong declined. After being eliminated in the second round of the People Power Party's presidential primary on April 29, Hong announced his retirement from politics and left the party.