Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, stated today (26th) that he is preparing for all scenarios, including an early presidential election, a regular election, or an election with a shortened term (after constitutional amendment).
During a year-end press conference held at the Daegu City Hall in Buk-gu, Daegu, Mayor Hong was asked if he would run in an early presidential election should the Constitutional Court uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol. He responded affirmatively, saying, “When the market is open, doesn’t a peddler go out to sell?” He has also hinted at his intention to run for president via social media recently.
Regarding the timing of the Constitutional Court’s decision, Mayor Hong commented, “It will be out before April 18th next year, as two justices will be replaced then. It’s difficult to predict the outcome.”
He also stated, “I might be the only person in our party who can handle Lee Jae-myung, and I think I’m the only one in South Korea who can stand against Trump.”
Mayor Hong announced, “Even if the mayor resigns, we have recently replaced the deputy mayor to ensure Daegu City remains stable,” adding that he plans to step down by mid-January next year.
He remarked, “A month is enough to overturn the situation, and the presidential election is a battle of messages and TV debates.”
Mayor Hong argued that both Lee Jae-myung and former U.S. President Donald Trump share two characteristics: they have criminal records and are involved in scandals with women.
He continued, “Even in the case of an early presidential election, we must keep saying that it’s not disadvantageous to avoid being decimated, asserting on social media that the Lee Jae-myung dominance theory is fictional.”
When asked about the possibility of former Minister Han Dong-hoon running for president, Mayor Hong replied, “A bird can’t fly again once its wings are broken.”
Regarding rumors that he changed his cell phone number to destroy evidence related to Myung Tae-kyun, Mayor Hong rebutted, “If I wanted to destroy evidence, I would change the device, not the number.”
He added, “Check all three so-called golden phones of Myung Tae-kyun and see if you hear my voice. My aides asked me to answer a call just once, and I briefly said, ‘Do well,’ before hanging up.”
Mayor Hong declared, “I’ve reported Myung Tae-kyun, Kang Hye-kyung, and attorney Myung Tae-kyun. They confessed to committing crimes with their own mouths, and I only reported what they self-admitted.”