Hong: "There is no historical case of a traitor who betrayed trust making a comeback"
Bae Hyunjin: "Do not be jealous of Han Donghoon, focus on your old age"
Hong Junpyo, former mayor of Daegu, and Bae Hyunjin, lawmaker of the People Power Party. Hong Junpyo YouTube, Bae Hyunjin Facebook
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo is taking aim at People Power Party lawmaker Bae Hyunjin, who is aligned with the pro-Park faction.
On the 17th, Hong criticized Bae, who received a one-year suspension of party membership, saying, "I doubt that someone who does not even know what the phrase 'prescribed procedure' means could have used the word 'crafty' (experienced, full of petty tricks, and cunning) while knowing its meaning. In my 43 years in public service, always living with dignity, it is the first time I have seen such an ignorant person call me crafty. The time will come when she will have to take responsibility for those words."
The "prescribed procedure" Hong referred to appears to be a jab at remarks Bae made during the culture minister's confirmation hearing last year. At the time, Bae raised suspicions of preferential treatment in the hiring of the daughter of then culture minister nominee Choi Hwi-young, and said in defense, "She was hired through a prescribed procedure and a lawful process." Bae then pointed out, "Ordinary job seekers do not go through a prescribed procedure. They succeed in getting hired only after going through an extremely grueling process."
This led to claims that Bae might not have understood that "prescribed procedure" means going through the set, established procedures.
"There is no historical case of a traitor who betrayed trust making a comeback"
Hong also said the previous day, "The current political situation is entirely due to a group of vulgar people with desolate minds who, like moths to a flame, are blindly rushing toward power," and added, "The cause of the opposition party's confusion also lies in the fact that kids with desolate minds have been running wild all this time," taking further aim at Bae.
He went on, "Traitors who have betrayed trust have never risen again since ancient times," predicting that not only expelled former party leader Han Donghoon but also Bae Hyunjin, who has been hit with a heavy one-year suspension of party membership, will face a bleak political future.
Hong has repeatedly criticized Han, calling him a "mercenary force" and a "rabble that disrupts the party." When Bae, whom Hong himself had brought into politics, distanced herself by saying he should "put aside his jealousy of Han Donghoon and focus on a comfortable old age," Hong responded strongly, saying, "I did not know her character was like that."
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