Hong Joon-pyo, a candidate for the presidential primary of the People Power Party, responded ‘no’ when asked on the 25th, ‘Have you received the survey results from Future Korea Research Institute (Future Korea), which is suspected to be owned by Mr. Myung-tae Kyun?’
On this day, at the ‘1-on-1 match debate’ of the People Power Party presidential primary, when asked by candidate Han Dong-hoon, “If it is different from the facts, wouldn’t it be like Lee Jae-myung? Have you really not received anything?” Hong replied.
Candidate Han asked again, “Have you ever used Future Korea’s survey even through your aides?” to which Hong replied, “I don’t know about that (whether an aide used it). Our camp has never used it.”
Regarding the background of changing his words after denying having met Mr. Myung, once photos were released, Hong said, “When I was the governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, I attended a speech at a certain organization where Mr. Myung was the MC,” adding, “I’ve been to that organization more than 100 times, so how would I know who the MC was?”
On the suspicion of paying for the survey costs through aides such as Mr. Choi, he mentioned, “Mr. Choi is a high school friend of my son and an aide to Mr. Myung,” and explained, “He attached himself to Myung and applied for the nomination (in Seoul’s Seocho District) but was rejected. It has nothing to do with me.”
In response to candidate Han’s remark to “clearly explain the issue related to Myung-tae Kyun,” Hong stated, “It seems you are asking maliciously.” Candidate Han retorted, “If I were malicious, would it be at this level?”