Hong Joon-pyo Slams Han Dong-hoon's Campaign Tactics as 'Low-Class and Crude'

The political arena is abuzz with sharp criticism from former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo directed at Han Dong-hoon, the former leader of the People Power Party. Hong has vehemently denounced Han's decision to appoint Jeong Hyung-geun, a former prosecutor implicated in coercion allegations, as the head of his campaign for the Busan Buk-gu갑 by-election. Hong did not mince words, labeling the move as "low-class and crude," and expressed bewilderment at the "outsider candidate" suddenly invoking the spirit of the late President Kim Dae-jung.

This public spat highlights the deep-seated rivalries and strategic maneuvering within the People Power Party as it navigates the post-election landscape. Hong's comments, made via Facebook, suggest a broader critique of Han's political judgment and campaign strategy. The reference to Kim Dae-jung, a figure associated with the liberal opposition, by a candidate in a conservative stronghold, is particularly noteworthy and has been interpreted as a sign of desperation or a miscalculation by Han's camp.

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Seeing an outsider candidate suddenly invoking the spirit of Kim Dae-jung while recruiting a former prosecutor accused of coercion as campaign manager, it is difficult to dismiss the feeling that the election is proceeding in a low-class and crude manner.

Furthermore, Hong weighed in on the Democratic Party's internal controversy regarding the withdrawal of prosecution, deeming it a "political judgment error." He clarified the legal framework for such withdrawals, emphasizing that they are typically reserved for cases where the true perpetrator is apprehended or the initial indictment is clearly erroneous. Hong drew a parallel to a past incident during the Kim Young-sam administration where a prosecution was withdrawn for Park Tae-joon, former chairman of POSCO, not due to innocence but as a political reconciliation measure. He suggested that any similar consideration for President Lee Jae-myung's case would require a suitable political and judicial environment.

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The discussion about withdrawing prosecution could have been done after the local elections.