Hong Joon-pyo, the former mayor of Daegu who declared his retirement from politics after being eliminated from the People Power Party primary, said, "If I had followed former President Roh Moo-hyun's suggestion to join the 'Little Democratic Party' 30 years ago, I might not have suffered for a long time in a party (People Power Party) where loyalty, morality, and common sense do not apply at all."
On the 15th, former Mayor Hong stated that he was elected as a member of the National Assembly five times not with the party's help but through his own strength in the community 'Dream of Youth.'
He continued, "I won the primary for the two-time Gyeongnam governor despite the persistent obstruction and slander from pro-Park (pro-Park Geun-hye) individuals using my own strength, and I also won the primary for the one-time mayor of Daegu despite receiving an unreasonable 15% penalty due to the party's persistent interference," and added, "The party has not given me anything." This seemed to respond to criticism from former People Power Party emergency committee head Kwon Young-se, who had said, "One who has made two presidential attempts, won two local government elections, and been elected to the National Assembly several times should not behave like this now."
At the same time, former Mayor Hong stated, "I only revived the party, which was devastated after the impeachment of Park Geun-hye," and noted, "Three years ago, when Yoon Suk-yeol had a crushing victory in public opinion but suffered a defeat in party spirit, I considered leaving the party, but I postponed it for the sake of making one last attempt. However, after seeing the fraudulent primary in this year's election, I left the party where I buried my youth. I have retired from the People Power Party."
He also stated, "I did not come to Hawaii for vacation; I came here for a brief exile to avoid the presidential election," and added, "I am temporarily staying at a long-time friend's house, which does not incur any separate costs. I will return after the election is over. I hope that whoever becomes president this time will thoroughly clean up this terrible political scene." It appears that while the party leadership repeatedly requested support for the presidential election from former Mayor Hong, he subtly declined.
Former Mayor Hong, who was eliminated from the presidential primary, has left the People Power Party. Currently residing in Hawaii, he has been repeatedly criticizing the People Power Party, saying, "I cannot sever ties with a party that has been impeached twice," and "Out of desperation, this vile group asks me to return, but now I have lost my affection and don’t even want to go near it."