Hong Junpyo likens People Power Party turmoil to the Warring States period
"The leaders have disappeared, and dwarfs are boasting about their height"
"Reform is more difficult than revolution... can they really pull it off?"
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Junpyo compared the current internal strife within the People Power Party to the Warring States period, describing it as a situation where "dwarfs are boasting about their height."
Hong Junpyo, who was eliminated from the People Power Party's third primary in the race for the 21st presidential candidacy, listens to the remarks of the advancing candidates at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of April 29, 2025. Photo by National Assembly Photojournalists Group
On the 8th, Hong posted on his social networking service (SNS), asking, "Can the People Power Party, which has become a hostage to the two mercenaries (former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon) who devastated the conservative camp through impeachment, root out the mercenary forces and make a comeback?" and "Can it eradicate the mercenary-following forces operating covertly within the party and rise again as an authentic conservative party?"
Regarding the current leadership under Jang Donghyuk, he said, "Reform is more difficult than revolution; can the current party leader really pull it off?" He continued, "When I served as party leader in 2017, our failure to properly purge the pro-Park Geunhye faction and the traitors is what has brought about this current ruinous situation once again. This time, will we truly be able to clean out the disruptive elements within the party?"
He went on, "Local elections are not important. In general elections or local elections held right after a change of government, the opposition cannot win," adding, "However, setting the party upright is a truly urgent and important task."
Hong soon posted again, looking back on his past tenure as party leader. He said, "Around October 2017, as party leader, I hung portraits of former Presidents Syngman Rhee, Park Chunghee, and Kim Youngsam at the party headquarters. This was an expression of the will to succeed the aspirations of these three figures, who symbolize the founding of the nation, industrialization, and democratization, and to move forward as an advanced great power."
He added, "It is very regrettable that a family member of the late former President Kim Youngsam recently demanded that the photo be taken down, as it signifies how disappointed they have become in the party," and pointed out, "It is truly unfortunate that today's People Power Party has failed to carry on the lineage of authentic conservatism and has degenerated into a free-for-all brawl among a motley crew." He then said, "It is like watching the chaos of the Warring States period," and criticized, "The leaders have disappeared, and it has turned into a scene where dwarfs are boasting about their height. How can one not find this pathetic?"
Recently, Kim Hyuncheol, son of the late former President Kim Youngsam and chairman of the Kim Youngsam Presidential Library and Museum, demanded that the photos of the former president hanging in the People Power Party conference room and at the party headquarters be taken down. On the 5th, Kim wrote on SNS, "The Jang Donghyuk leadership is effectively responding with silence to the request of a far-right YouTuber to hang up a photo of Chun Doohwan," and demanded, "Seeing the People Power Party openly describe itself as the heirs of the past military regimes, I ask that you immediately take down the photo of former President Kim, who no longer has any reason to remain there."
Earlier, conservative YouTuber Go Seongguk, who joined the People Power Party, sparked controversy by insisting that photos of former Presidents Chun Doohwan, Roh Taewoo, Park Geunhye, and Yoon Suk Yeol should be hung at the party headquarters. However, Jang Donghyuk said, "This has never been considered at all," and added, "The People Power Party still respects and highly values the contributions that former President Kim made in dedicating himself to democratization."
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