Hong Junpyo Calls for Overhaul of Conservatism: "It's a Burden to the People... Only Appealing to the Elderly as People Power Party"

"Conservatism Ended After Lee Hoi-chang's Retirement"
"After the Presidential Election, Conservatism Must Start Anew"

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the election campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 21st of last month. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo made pointed remarks about the People Power Party, the party he was affiliated with throughout his political career. He claimed that after the retirement of former leader Lee Hoi-chang, pseudo-conservatives gathered and undermined authentic conservatism.

On the 16th, Hong wrote on his Facebook page, "I remember the happiest times in this party were when I acted as a political sniper during the administrations of former President Kim Daejung and Roh Moo-hyun."

He continued, "I mistakenly thought being a political sniper was everything in politics, and back then, I was most content in this party when I volunteered to be its vanguard, always waking up wondering how I could strike at them that day." He added, "But whenever I came home late after working all day, it was always the loafers who ended up occupying the main room."

Hong said, "In the end, I knew this party had that nature, but I spent 20 years suffering in silence. The first 10 years before that were spent running around like a child."

He stated, "The authentic conservatism of this party ended when leader Lee Hoi-chang retired from politics. Since then, pseudo-conservatives have gathered, falsely claiming to represent authentic conservatism with all sorts of flowery rhetoric, deceiving the public." He further argued, "Now, even the party's platform has been disguised as leftist policy."

He concluded, "Even so, they do not realize they have become a burden to the people and continue to claim to represent the People Power Party, targeting only the elderly. After this presidential election, it seems that authentic Korean conservatism will need to completely overhaul the existing order and start anew."