Hong’s leadership shaken to its core

By Park Si-soo

Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, chairman of the ruling Grand National Party, seems to have belated and deep regret for his lack of communication with the public.

Following the humiliating loss of his party’s candidate for Seoul mayor to a political novice with no party affiliation in the Oct. 26 by-elections, Hong demanded his party members shift into high gear in meeting, talking and sharing their thoughts with citizens, particularly those in the 20s and 30s. Hong himself rolled up his sleeves to mend fences with estranged young voters.

But it remains to be seen how much these efforts would work with key general elections only five months away.

The 57-year-old’s lack of communication skills were — once again — proven through his casual meeting with college students later last month. The meeting, held at a pub in Seoul only five days after the by-elections, was aimed at listening to young people’s complaints over the ruling camp.

Considering the nature of such a meeting, especially with those similar in age to his children, it’s understandable that he lowered his guard during the talks. But he lowered it too much.

Asked of his swaying leadership in the wake of the by-elections, Hong said, “I became a mainstream member (of the GNP) only three months ago. Whenever I’m told such a story, I feel really tempted to beat down those who provoke me.” He went on to say that, “I’m chairman of the Korea Taekwondo Association. I’m really tempted to do so. But I quell my anger in order not to spoil my reputation.” Taekwondo is Korea’s traditional martial art.

Hong joined the political world in 1996 after retiring as a prosecutor. Since then he was elected lawmaker four times in a row and in July became the chairman of the ruling party. The conservative party leader even openly said in the meeting that he hates graduates of Ewha Womans University, a prestigious female university in Seoul.

“I had a blind date with a Ewha student. She stood up from her seat and disappeared 30 seconds after I told her the high school I graduated from,” he told students at the pub. “My fellow lawmaker Jeon Yeo-ok is a Ewha graduate. So one day I told Jeon I hate Ewha students.”

A participant said he was not frustrated by the remarks since Hong was under the influence of alcohol. But he added the veteran politician should have had more careful attitude toward his listeners.

These remarks immediately became the target of criticism not only from the opposition camp but also his party. “Shameful...I have nothing to say about it,” said Rep. Won Hee-ryong of the GNP. Another GNP lawmaker Kwon Young-se said the chairman is “making the situation worse.”

His ignorance of SNS was divulged through his work to appear on the country’s most popular podcast talk show, called Naneun Ggomsuda — each session of the show logs as many as 2 million downloads.

Ahead of the by-elections, he told the show’s host Kim Ou-joon that he will appear on the show if it is guaranteed his talks are to be aired at a “golden time,” clear evidence of his ignorance of podcasts which an increasing number of Korean people rely on as a source of information about political and social affairs.

Many netizens ridiculed him, saying, “Most of all, Hong should learn what a podcast is.”

Analysts say this is not a problem limited to Hong but many other decision-making members of the GNP. Prof. Kim Hyung-joon at Seoul’s Myongji University said the GNP should revamp the way it communicates with people in order to prevent a second and stronger blow to the party in the general elections next year.