Hong Junpyo: "The Core of Reform Is Voluntary Dissolution... Both Pro-Yoon and Pro-Han Factions Must Be Expelled"

"If Jeong Cheongrae Becomes Party Leader, the Party Will Not Be Safe"
"Scrambling to Become Captain of a Sinking Ship"
"The Party Should Voluntarily Dissolve and Hand Over Its Assets to the State"

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

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo argued that, in order to rebuild the conservative bloc, the party should voluntarily dissolve itself and expel both the pro-Yoon (Yoon Sukyeol loyalists) and pro-Han (Han Donghoon loyalists) factions, who provided the initial cause for the declaration of martial law.

On July 21, Hong Junpyo referred to two previous crises faced by conservatives in a post on his Facebook page, stating, "This current martial law situation is even more serious and grave than the previous two, yet the pro-Yoon and pro-Han factions plotted a fraudulent primary and ended up handing over power to the Lee Jaemyung administration." The crises Hong Junpyo mentioned were the so-called "Chae-Ttaegi scandal" in 2004 and the impeachment of former President Park Geunhye in 2017.

The 2004 "Chae-Ttaegi scandal" involved the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the current People Power Party) receiving illegal political funds in cash from major conglomerates ahead of the 2002 presidential election, transporting the money in car trunks. Prosecutors discovered that approximately 82 billion won in illegal funds entered the campaign of candidate Lee Hoi-chang. It was also confirmed that conglomerates such as Samsung and Hyundai had systematically provided funds. At the time, Park Geunhye, then acting party leader, handed over all party assets to the state and appealed to party members and the public from a tent headquarters, leading the party's reconstruction.

Hong Junpyo commented, "The current party has become a sinking ship due to its own faults, and it is pitiful to see the group scrambling to become the captain of that sinking ship," adding, "In the future, a special prosecutor will summon dozens of party lawmakers as accomplices in incitement and rebellion, and if Jeong Cheongrae becomes the Democratic Party leader, he will not leave the rebellion-accomplice party untouched."

He further stated, "If a request is filed to dissolve the party, state subsidies are cut off, dozens of lawmakers are indicted as in the Fast Track case, and if the special prosecutor's investigation into Kim Keonhee's abuse of power becomes a reality, can the party withstand the public's anger?" He continued, "Not only the party's survival but even holding local elections would be in question."

In conclusion, he said, "The core of reform is to voluntarily dissolve the party, hand over party assets to the state, and expel both pro-Yoon and pro-Han factions who provided the initial cause for martial law. Only if new, authentic conservatives gather can public trust be restored. Yet you, who still haven't come to your senses and are just relying on your remaining parliamentary terms, are truly pathetic," he said angrily.