Hong Junpyo: "Leaving a Group Heading in the Wrong Direction Is an Escape, Not Desertion"
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo and former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon have clashed once again online over the controversy surrounding the decision to forgo an appeal in the Daejang-dong case. When Han criticized Hong by calling him a 'deserter,' Hong responded by saying, "It was not desertion, but an escape."
Former People Power Party Chairman Han Donghoon and former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo. The Asia Business Daily DB
On November 14, Hong stated on his social networking service (SNS) account that he had reread author Lee Byungju's epic novel "Jirisan," explaining, "This is because the current confusion between the left and right is very similar to the situation in Korea right after liberation."
"Jirisan" is a novel set against the backdrop of the turbulent period spanning the Japanese occupation, liberation, and the Korean War, depicting the stories of partisans who operated in the Jirisan region. The protagonist, Park Taeyoung, symbolizes an intellectual caught in chaos, and despite struggling between his beliefs and reality, he continues down the path of a partisan until he meets a tragic end.
Hong wrote that he does not agree with the choice made by Park Taeyoung. He stated, "Park Taeyoung knew that his decision to side with the South Korean Workers' Party was a mistake, but he refused to change his beliefs until the end and chose death, which he considered punishment for his own wrong choice," adding, "I do not think his choice was right."
He continued, "When a group is heading in the wrong direction, it is right to do everything possible to steer it the right way, but if that is not possible, it is better to give up on that group and find a new path."
He further emphasized, "Dying together with that group is not the right choice. That is not desertion, but an escape."
Hong's remarks are interpreted as a rebuttal to Han's earlier criticism of him as a 'deserter.' On November 11, Hong pointed out that there was little internal opposition within the prosecution regarding the decision to forgo an appeal in the Daejang-dong development corruption case, stating, "Political prosecutors like Yoon Sukyeol and Han Donghoon have ruined the prosecution." In response, Han said, "Hong Junpyo, the 'deserter' who ran away in fear of the Lee Jaemyung administration by leaving the party, should keep his mouth shut."
The two have previously been known as rivals within the same party, frequently exchanging sharp criticism. When Han was the acting leader of the People Power Party and a conflict arose between the party and the Yoon Sukyeol administration, Hong criticized Han on SNS. Additionally, during the party's primary race ahead of the 21st presidential election, the two faced off as competitors, engaging in heated debates and trading barbs during televised forums.
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