Hong Joon-pyo, a candidate entering the People Power Party presidential primary, said, "If I become the party's presidential nominee and lose, I will take responsibility and immediately retire from politics."
On the 29th, looking at Facebook, candidate Hong noted, "That means this is my final challenge."
Candidate Hong expressed his intention to resign from the Daegu mayoral position on the 6th to challenge for the presidency, saying, "I am making my way to Seoul toward my final dream."
Candidate Hong stated, "I am focusing solely on the presidential election and have no interest in party leadership," adding, "Would someone who has already served as party leader twice come out to seek party leadership like other candidates?"
In another post, candidate Hong remarked, "Those who are only blinded by party leadership over the presidential election. It feels like I’m running for the presidency in solitude (孤島), while I dream of the 2002 Roh Moo-hyun election, but others seem to be acting like it’s the 2007 Jeong Dong-young election," targeting other candidates preoccupied with maintaining party leadership.
A political source noted, "Isn’t candidate Hong stepping in as lawmakers in specific candidate camps seem to be moving with the goal of maintaining party leadership through unifying Han Duck-soo?"
Meanwhile, on the morning of the 29th, just before announcing the two candidates advancing to the third round, candidate Hong said, "I feel at ease as I empty my mind ahead of this final challenge," adding, "Regardless of the outcome, I will adapt and live in this world."