Hong Junpyo: "Senior PPP Members Who Followed Yoon Sukyeol and Han Donghoon Are Worse Than the Mercenaries Who Ruined Conservatism"

"In the End, the Party Will Share the Fate of the Unified Progressive Party...
Unable to Stop Lee Jaemyung's Dominance"

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo criticized, "The main culprits who ruined South Korea's conservative bloc are the two mercenaries, Yoon Sukyeol and Han Donghoon," but added, "The senior members of the People Power Party (PPP) who blindly followed them are even worse."

On the 24th, Hong wrote on his Facebook, "Those senior PPP members lacked competitiveness themselves, so they brought in the two mercenaries and bowed down to them for personal gain. These senior members are actually worse than the two mercenaries."

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers

He continued, "Unless these people are purged, it will be difficult for the People Power Party to recover. No matter how much they call for innovation, if the corrupt and incompetent targets of reform remain the mainstream, how can the party possibly be reformed?" This remark appears to be aimed at former leader Han Donghoon, who is rumored to be running in the party convention.

Hong further stated, "There will be no one to block the three major special prosecutors, and no one to stop Lee Jaemyung's dominance. The party will be helplessly defeated," adding, "In the end, they will not be able to avoid the fate of the Unified Progressive Party, which was dissolved in 2014."

Previously, Hong had predicted that the People Power Party would also be dissolved as an unconstitutional party, just as the Unified Progressive Party was during the Park Geunhye administration. On the 19th, Hong argued, "The current People Power Party is not a political party but an organization engaged in systematic collusion, subject to the rule of law," and added, "It cannot be ruled out that the party may be dissolved as a consequence of its crimes, not as political retaliation."

Lastly, Hong said, "Ultimately, South Korea's conservative bloc will face a situation where it must rise again from the devastated ruins," and added, "During the impeachment of Park Geunhye, they managed to survive, but now, after being impeached twice, I worry whether the people will tolerate it again."

After losing in the PPP presidential primary in April, Hong declared his departure from the party and retirement from politics, staying in Hawaii. Since returning to Korea from Hawaii on the 17th, former leader Hong has continued to deliver sharp criticism toward the People Power Party. There is speculation about his next steps, including the possibility of joining the Reform Party or forming an alliance with lawmaker Lee Junseok.