Hong Junpyo: "If I Had Joined the Military Academy, I’d Be a Rebel; If Medical School, a Rural Doctor... Growing Old Criticized for Choosing Politics"

"Youth Facing College Entrance Should Make Careful Career Decisions"

Hong Junpyo, former mayor of Daegu, expressed his regrets by saying, "If I were born again, I would like to live as a historian."

Junpyo Hong, former mayor of Daegu. The Asia Business Daily DB.

On December 8, through his Facebook page, Hong stated, "I hope that young people who have taken the College Scholastic Ability Test and are about to apply for college will make more careful decisions about their career paths, as these choices will shape their entire lives."

He reflected, "I sometimes wonder how my life would have turned out if I had chosen to attend Kyungpook National University Medical School instead of Korea University School of Law 52 years ago," and added, "I also wonder how my life would have unfolded if I had joined the 32nd class of the Korea Military Academy instead of going to Korea University School of Law."

Hong continued, "If I had gone to the Korea Military Academy, I probably would have been recruited as a subordinate to a traditional figure from my hometown of Hapcheon (referring to former President Chun Doo-hwan), ended up working for the Defense Security Command, and most likely ruined my life after being accused of being a rebel. If I had gone to Kyungpook National University Medical School, by now I would probably be growing old as a doctor in a quiet rural area."

He also made remarks suggesting he regrets entering politics. Hong said, "Because I always sought out places full of conflict, I have spent my years being criticized by opposing camps no matter what I do, even as I grow old. That is truly regrettable. If I could go back to those days, I would want to become a historian, a profession free from conflict."

Originally from Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Hong chose the natural sciences track while attending Yeongnam High School in Daegu, but applied to and was accepted by Korea University School of Law for college. In October 1971, he also passed a special entrance examination for the Korea Military Academy. However, after witnessing his father being falsely accused and taken to a police station, he resolved to become a prosecutor rather than a soldier and gave up his admission.