"I Was Elected on My Own... The Party Has Done Nothing for Me"
"Seeking Exile in Hawaii... I Will Return After the Presidential Election"
Hong Junpyo, former mayor of Daegu, who declared his retirement from politics after being eliminated in the People Power Party's presidential primary, targeted the party by saying, "If, 30 years ago, when I knew nothing about politics, I had followed former President Roh Moo-hyun's advice and joined the Little Democratic Party, perhaps I would not have suffered for so long in a party where loyalty, duty, and common sense mean nothing."
On May 15, through his communication platform "Dream of Youth," Hong said, "I was elected to the National Assembly five times not with the party's help, but by my own strength."
He added, "I won the Gyeongnam governorship twice in the primaries through my own efforts, despite persistent checks and slander from pro-Park factions. I also won the Daegu mayoral primary, overcoming relentless interference from the party and receiving an unreasonable 15% penalty. The party has given me nothing." This appears to be a rebuttal to Kwon Youngse, former acting leader of the People Power Party, who had criticized Hong by saying, "Someone who has twice run for president, twice been elected as a metropolitan mayor, and been elected as a lawmaker several times in this party should not act this way now."
Hong further stated, "After the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, I was the one who revived the party." He continued, "Three years ago, after I won overwhelmingly in public opinion but lost badly in the party vote to Yoon Suk-yeol, I considered leaving the party, but I postponed it for one last challenge. However, after seeing the fraudulent primary in this election, I left the party where I devoted my youth. I have retired from the People Power Party."
Hong also addressed the possibility of returning to politics. He said, "I did not come to Hawaii for leisure, but to seek temporary exile from the presidential election. I am staying at an old friend's house, so I am not spending any extra money. I will return after the election is over."
Meanwhile, since leaving the party and departing for Hawaii, USA, Hong has continued to voice strong criticism toward the People Power Party. Recently, he stated, "I cannot avoid severing ties with a party that has been impeached twice," "I left because it is a group that is beyond repair," and "I am now so disillusioned that I do not even want to go near it."
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