Hong Joon-pyo Accuses Kwon Sung-dong of False Claims Regarding Election Influence
Seoul, South Korea – Former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has publicly refuted claims made by Kwon Sung-dong, a former leader of the People Power Party, regarding alleged religious influence in past elections. The dispute centers on accusations that a specific religious group, identified as Shincheonji, may have played a role in securing votes for presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, a claim Hong Joon-pyo vehemently denies.
The controversy began with an article suggesting that the investigation into former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife, Kim Gun-hee, initiated under the Lee Jae-myung administration, was linked to Yoon’s presidential candidacy.The article also implied that Kwon sung-dong, who served as the general manager for Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign, benefited from party votes. This was followed by a report stating that Shincheonji, former President Yoon Seok-yeol, and Kwon Sung-dong had no response to these allegations.
However, Kwon Sung-dong swiftly responded to the initial report via Facebook, directly refuting Hong Joon-pyo’s assertions. In a post made around 4:12 PM on the day of the report, Kwon sung-dong characterized Hong Joon-pyo’s statements as a “chronic disease” and a “recurrence of ‘Hong Joon-pyo chronic disease’,” accusing him of disseminating false facts and attributing problems to others due to an inability to except defeat.
Kwon Sung-dong addressed two specific points raised by Hong Joon-pyo. Firstly, he denied any involvement with a particular religion to secure organizational votes during the election. He emphasized that the election results were determined by fair party votes and national polls, dismissing the claim of religious group involvement as a “delusion” stemming from an inability to accept defeat.
Secondly, Kwon Sung-dong pointed out that hong Joon-pyo is no longer a member of their party, stating that “departure is a breakup.” He urged Hong Joon-pyo to cease what he described as “stalking politics,” comparing it to an obsession with a former lover, and warned against continued contact.
The situation has escalated, with Hong Joon-pyo reportedly reiterating his suspicions about Kwon Sung-dong in a subsequent Facebook post.The article suggests that legal responses may be forthcoming, and investigative authorities could examine the factual basis of these suspicions.It remains to be seen whether shincheonji and former President Yoon Seok-yeol will issue official rebuttals or take legal action.
Further developments are anticipated, including the possibility of Hong Joon-pyo releasing additional details, such as recordings or photographs, to support his claims. The unfolding events are also expected to influence the upcoming August 22nd party convention and the balance of power within the party’s right wing.
The article also draws attention to the significance of the “10,000” figure mentioned by hong Joon-pyo, noting its relevance in the previous presidential election. In the 20th presidential election, Yoon Seok-yeol secured victory with 1,639,815 votes (48.56%), narrowly defeating the Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who received 1,614,738 votes (47.83%). The margin of victory was a mere 24,777 votes, representing the smallest vote gap in presidential election history.