Hong Joon-pyo elected LKP leader, vows reform

By Choi Ha-young

Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hong Joon-pyo

Hong Joon-pyo, the former presidential candidate of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) was elected as the party’s new leader, Monday.

Hong, who lost to Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in the May 9 presidential election, won a landslide victory in the party’s leadership race with support of 65.7 percent, beating Reps. Won Yoo-chul and Shin Sang-jin who gained 22.9 percent and 11.2 percent, respectively.

“We should unite, renovate and only pursue the people’s will,” the outspoken prosecutor-turned-politician said in a crowded press conference at the party’s office in western Seoul. “I will form a renovation committee for the party to bring in new blood.”

Through the committee, he implied he will exclude those who are associated with former President Park from core positions. “As seen by my overwhelming victory, the LKP is no longer dominated by the pro-Park group,” Hong said.

The victor highlighted the party’s meager presence in politics. “For the last 15 days, we underwent an unprecedentedly harsh election atmosphere. The media disregarded us and voters turned away from us,” he said. “However, we will overcome this hardship as we have in the past.”

The LKP’s new leadership is challenged to overcome adverse impressions around the scandal-ridden party and resolve the factional dispute. Since the massive corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye erupted in October, the party has faced an enormous public outcry along with lawmakers’ exodus.

In recent days, the party has stuck to political brinkmanship against Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling DPK, but the conservatives are not rallying around the party. Within the party, Hong has caused a stir by exchanging barbs with the pro-Park faction.

The LKP’s top post had remained vacant after Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, a staunch loyalist to Park, stepped down taking responsibility for the president’s impeachment. Through the party’s convention to elect a new chairman and four Supreme Council members ― Lee Cheol-woo, Ryu Yeo-hae, Kim Tae-heum and Lee Jae-man ― the party braced itself for battle against the popular President Moon Jae-in.

During the snap presidential election, Hong, who posed as a “strongman” to stand shoulder to shoulder with U.S. President Donald Trump, drew flak by making sexist remarks. Because of his Cold War-styled terms, the LKP has been thought of as an ultra-right group among the younger generation.

On Saturday, he said he will “impeach” pollsters that are publishing unfavorable results about the LKP. He lashed out at the companies again Monday.

During Monday’s party convention, it touted the slogan “We will change” vowing upright reform of the party. In a bid to get together with the common people, all candidates were digging for potatoes with farmers in a village in Gyeonggi Province during the convention.

The LKP ― formerly the Saenuri Party ― recruited a reformist interim leader, In Myung-jin, in December. The former Christian activist declared war against the pro-Park faction, but his efforts fell apart through the reaction of the far-right lawmakers.