Hong Junpyo: "People Power Party Unlikely to Survive This Time... Don't Blame Me or Lee Junseok"

"There Was a Chance for Recovery, But Selfishness Ruined It," Criticism
"Prepare for the Coming Ice Age," Advice

As early voting began on the 29th, former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo criticized the People Power Party, which failed to unify, saying, "Don't blame me. Don't blame Lee Junseok either." On this day, Hong posted on his social media regarding the collapse of the unification between Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, and Lee Junseok, the Reform New Party presidential candidate, saying, "That was because you made the wrong choice." He continued, "You drove one person out with absurd slander, and you pushed another out with envy and jealousy through two fraudulent primaries," adding, "How can a public party do such things?"

As early voting begins on the 29th, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo criticized the People Power Party, which failed to unify, saying, "Don't blame me. Don't blame Lee Junseok either." Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

He went on to say, "This is all your own doing. Even though the party was impeached twice, there was still a chance for recovery, but your selfishness ruined even that," and advised, "Don't blame anyone else, and prepare for the coming Ice Age (cold winter)." He also added, "You barely survived the impeachment of Park Geunhye, but this time, it will be difficult to survive."

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo, who is departing for the United States, is meeting Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, who came to see him off at the VIP lounge of Incheon International Airport on the 10th. Yonhap News TV

Previously, on the day before, candidate Kim Moonsoo visited candidate Lee Junseok's office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, but it was reported that the meeting did not take place. In response, Kwon Seongdong, the floor leader of the People Power Party (and co-chair of the election committee), apologized for the discord in the primary on the 28th and urged, "Chairman Hong Junpyo, please return to Korea and support candidate Kim Moonsoo."

Meanwhile, after failing to make it to the final round of the presidential primary, Hong Junpyo announced his withdrawal from the party and retirement from politics, and departed for Hawaii, United States, on the 10th. Afterwards, as rumors spread about Hong supporting Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, or being considered for Prime Minister, the People Power Party dispatched a special delegation including lawmaker Kim Daesik, but upon returning to Korea, they failed to achieve their goal of having Hong join Kim Moonsoo's election committee. Kim and the so-called 'Hawaii delegation' claimed upon their return that Hong had actively supported Kim Moonsoo, but it turned out this was far from the truth.