Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who was eliminated in the second preliminary round of the People Power Party presidential election on the 29th, announced his retirement from politics, prompting Kim Moon-soo, a presidential candidate, to say, “There is still the final battle left,” and tried to persuade him.
Candidate Kim released a letter he wrote to former Mayor Hong on that day.
He said, “Today, I write this letter not as a presidential candidate, but as a long-time colleague and peer from the National Assembly,” and added, “Political retirement is not now. At this precarious time for the country, your place, Hong, is still at the forefront of the People Power Party.”
Candidate Kim recalled, “In the 2017 presidential election, it was Hong who stood alone holding the flag of the Liberty Korea Party where the party had collapsed. I was right there beside him, leading the election together. We protected the conservative party that way and endured together.”
He went on to appeal, “Please support us in rebuilding the conservative party and in protecting the free Republic of Korea.” This also reflects a call for him to play a role, as there is still a contest against Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung remaining in the June 3rd election and is seen as a ‘love call’ ahead of the party's internal runoff.
Earlier, former Mayor Hong stated on Facebook, “I am now looking to put everything down and return as a citizen of Seoul. My role in this presidential election ends here.” He also expressed his intention to withdraw from the party, saying, “Tomorrow, I plan to leave the party I've been attached to for 30 years.”
Meanwhile, some incumbent People Power Party lawmakers who had worked on former Mayor Hong's presidential campaign will declare their support for Kim Moon-soo, who has advanced to the third round of the primary election on the 30th. Lawmakers Yoo Sang-beom, Kim Dae-sik, Baek Jong-heon, and Kim Wi-sang, who served as head of the general situation office, candidate's secretary, head of the health and welfare general headquarters, and head of the labor general headquarters respectively, will join.
Additionally, Lee Young-soo, the head of the general support headquarters from Hong's former campaign, former lawmaker Kim Sun-dong, who was the head of the general organization headquarters, and former Namyangju Mayor Jo Gwang-han, along with 53 other local party organizations, are also expected to support Candidate Kim.