Hong Junpyo, After Meeting People Power Party Delegation: "Absolutely No Chance of Joining Hands with the Democratic Party"

Hong Expresses Support for Kim After Meeting Hawaii Delegation
No Definite Answer on Joining Campaign Committee

On May 20, Yoo Sangbum, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, stated, "Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo made it very clear that there is absolutely no possibility of him joining hands with the Democratic Party of Korea."

During an interview on CBS Radio that day, Yoo said, "After meeting with former Mayor Hong, I mentioned the rumors about the Democratic Party recruiting Hong Junpyo and offering him the position of Prime Minister, which had arisen because of his social media profile photo showing him wearing a blue tie. He told me that he was not aware that this was becoming an issue."

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo posted a Facebook cover photo wearing a blue tie (left) on the 19th, then changed it to a photo with a red tie four hours later. Yonhap News Agency

Previously, Yoo, along with lawmaker Kim Daesik and others, visited Hawaii as a special delegation to meet with former Mayor Hong. The delegation delivered a handwritten letter from People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo, requesting Hong to join the campaign committee.

Yoo explained, "During our discussion, former Mayor Hong clearly said, 'I support candidate Kim and wish for Kim Moonsoo's victory.' I believe that, ultimately, he can play a role in Kim's victory in one form or another." He continued, "If former Mayor Hong returns to the party, we conveyed that all requests will be accommodated and that decisions regarding his role will be left entirely to him, asking for his support on behalf of candidate Kim. Former Mayor Hong said he would consider it deeply, and we agreed to meet again for further discussion this evening."

Yoo said, "The biggest issue facing us in the current presidential race is that there is no unification centered around our People Power Party candidate, which has led to very weak support for candidate Kim even among supporter groups." He added, "Former Mayor Hong pointed out this analysis first, and if he joins, I expect he will play an important role in addressing this issue."

He further stated, "Both candidate Kim Moonsoo and (Reform Party candidate) Lee Junseok recognize that the unification of conservative candidates is ultimately the key to victory."

The previous day, former Mayor Hong changed his social media profile photo to one of himself wearing a blue tie, leading to speculation that he was indirectly expressing his intention to join the Democratic Party. Traditionally, red symbolizes the People Power Party, while blue symbolizes the Democratic Party. As controversy arose, former Mayor Hong changed the tie in the photo to red about four hours later and reposted it.