The current task is to stabilize a country in chaos due to the impeachment. The impeachment is already a thing of the past. We need to consider how to build the future Republic of Korea. To do that, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Representative Lee Jun-seok must work together, and after coming to power, we must acknowledge the political reality of candidate Lee Jae-myung.
Hong Joon-pyo, a candidate for the People Power Party's presidential primary, held an emergency press conference on the 24th and made a "surprising declaration." It seemed reasonable to consider unifying with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo or candidate Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party during the process of selecting a presidential candidate from the conservative camp, but he also mentioned Representative Lee Jae-myung, stating he would work with the Democratic Party of Korea.
Criticism arose within the party immediately. Candidate Han Dong-hoon said, "Isn't it enough to have a pro-impeachment line, but now we have to also work with the pro-Yoon coalition?" However, Hong's thoughts remained unchanged. He emphasized that we must end the era of fighting and prioritize the "national interest."
On the afternoon of the press conference, I met with Hong at the candidate camp in Yeouido, Seoul. Dressed in a white shirt with a red tie, Hong laughed as he began the interview, saying, "It's exhausting to repeat the same thing five times in an interview." Nevertheless, his voice was filled with energy whenever he emphasized how the country should be built. It was also noticeable that he, who proclaimed himself a "strongman," decided to shift his approach and engage in a respectful discussion with candidate Han Dong-hoon, with whom he had previously clashed.
Hong stated that now is the time to stop fighting over impeachment and think about how to build the future Republic of Korea. He emphasized that if he comes to power, the oppression of the opposition must cease for the country to advance.
He expressed a strong intention to begin constitutional revision immediately upon taking office. He believes that new constitutions should be implemented starting from the 2028 National Assembly elections and the 2030 presidential elections. Regarding the medical crisis, he mentioned that listening to the demands of the medical community and gradually increasing the number of professionals is a reasonable approach. Concerning the trade war with the United States, he proposed significantly expanding energy imports as a solution. In the debate scheduled for the 25th with candidate Han Dong-hoon, he remarked that he would aim for a "gentler" approach to avoid creating lingering resentment.
Next is the Q&A session with Hong.
<b>—I said I would go together for national unity, including acting representative Han Duck-soo and candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party.</b>
The current task is to stabilize a country in chaos due to impeachment. The task of creating this stabilization plan is this election. Impeachment is already a thing of the past, and we must ponder how to construct the future Republic of Korea. Isn't the country currently being torn apart?
Both conservatives and progressives, leftists and rightists are pointing fingers at each other over impeachment, and despite conducting this election and forming a new government, the country will not change. The actions of oppressing the opposition with one's own camp logic and sending people to jail once in power have continued for the past 20 years since the Roh Moo-hyun administration. Should such things happen again?
So today (on the 24th), I said that both the pro-impeachment and anti-impeachment factions should work together, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and that Lee Jun-seok should also join us. And I said that if we come to power, we should acknowledge Lee Jae-myung too.
<b>—What does it mean to acknowledge Lee Jae-myung?</b>
What I mean is that even if we dislike him now, we should acknowledge the political reality. We must recognize and negotiate to lead the country.
If we take power, will we just think of ways to deal with Lee Jae-myung? If we do politics that way, the same outcome will repeat. Even if he is unlikable now, we should acknowledge him when we come to power.
There exists a national interest. We must prioritize the overall benefit of the country over camp logic and talk and compromise focusing on what the national interest is. Shouldn't we create a more peaceful nation?
The left-right confrontation must come to an end. That is why I talk about the 7th Republic and about becoming an advanced country. We must create a system of coexistence.
<b>—Among your supporters, there are those opposed to impeachment. How will you persuade them?</b>
I hear talk about the "impeachment forces" and the "treason forces," but that's a frame created by the Democratic Party. There is not a single person in our party who supported martial law.
'Martial law was wrong, but impeachment was excessive. Let's persuade him to voluntarily resign.' This has been my consistent argument for the past three months. I believe those who led the impeachment in our party did not act in a politically ethical manner.
But some forces have carried out impeachment through collusion with the enemy. When it reached the Constitutional Court, it became legally impeached. Ultimately, former President Yoon resigned, so I think we should end the impeachment controversy here.
<b>—What is your differentiation strategy from candidate Lee Jae-myung?</b>
The Democratic Party will only cling to impeachment. The phrase "benefiting from another's misfortune" corresponds to the Korean idiom "the clam and the snipe fight" that means the clam closes its shell when the snipe tries to eat it, and as a result, neither can move.
Ultimately, this leads to a passing fisherman catching both of them. Former President Yoon and candidate Lee Jae-myung have only fought over who will be the clam and the snipe for the past three years. One was sent by the Constitutional Court, and the other must be sent by the people to end this conflict. The idea is for the people to become fishermen and catch both.
(If I come to power) it won't be an extension of the Yoon Seok-yeol government. It's about creating a new country. I will clearly show how life will be under a Lee Jae-myung administration versus a Hong Joon-pyo administration.
This election will be about choosing not a party but individuals and policies. Why would I be inferior to candidate Lee Jae-myung?
<b>—There are continuing rumors about acting representative Han Duck-soo's candidacy.</b>
At first, I viewed it as unreasonable. If a prime minister from an impeached government runs, the issue will end up being impeachment. Could I win that election? Moreover, the prime minister has the greatest responsibility for managing a neutral election. Is there a case of a referee stepping onto the field as a player?
However, as many party members and citizens wanted him included, I said he may join us. Even if he doesn't, I will find ways to form a unification from outside.
<b>—Candidate Lee Jun-seok was mentioned as well.</b>
The starting point of our party's decline was forcibly ousting Lee Jun-seok. No one understands his value better than I do. Such talent in their 40s is rare in our political arena. Some say he lacks manners, but that's because he speaks boldly while being young; it's not that he is rude.
Recently, I told candidate Lee Jun-seok that I could be his political stepping stone. So I suggested we work hard individually and come together later.
<b>—What is the roadmap for constitutional revision if you come to power?</b>
Every government in history has stated they would revise the constitution but failed to do so. This is because it becomes a black hole that absorbs all government policies.
Upon taking power, I will establish a government committee for constitutional revision to promote a four-year term system and a bicameral legislature. This committee will coordinate with the National Assembly's constitutional revision special committee to formulate proposals, which I intend to put to a public vote alongside next year's local elections.
I plan to reduce the total number of National Assembly members by about 100, increasing the number of senators and representatives to 50 and 150 respectively, and eliminating proportional representation.
<b>—You recently met with the Korean Medical Association, becoming the first presidential candidate to do so.</b>
I found all four demands made by the medical community regarding the medical crisis to be reasonable. I promised that if I become president, I will accept all of them.
When the government stated it would increase the medical school enrollment by 2000, I argued that it didn't make sense. For our country to thrive, we need talent in science and engineering, and increasing medical school enrollment would lead to the decline of those fields.
If we are to increase the number of doctors, we should do so depending on demand, gradually increasing by 100 or 200 at local medical schools. Is it feasible to increase 2000 all at once without the educational infrastructure to support it?
<b>—The government has begun the 2+2 talks with the United States. Ultimately, the new government will need to address trade issues.</b>
Resolving trade issues must start with balancing the trade surplus. Last year, our trade surplus with the United States was $55.7 billion, the largest in history. From the U.S. perspective, this trade deficit with Korea is the seventh largest.
The first way to resolve this is to expand imports of American energy. Based on last year's figures, our country imports about $140 billion worth of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from abroad. If we redirect half of that to the U.S., the U.S. will achieve a trade surplus. By switching from the Middle East to the U.S., we are not at a loss. Trump, a real estate businessman, views international relations as transactions. There are many ways for the U.S. to benefit without incurring a loss.
And isn't what the U.S. demands shipbuilding? Our country is number one in the world in that area. There are many other sectors, like semiconductors, where we can forge alliances. We are currently pushing for the chair of the American Artificial Intelligence Association to visit Korea soon. If negotiations proceed well, we can resolve sensitive issues in one go.
<b>—Recently, there have been criticisms that I am not acting like "Hong Cola (a nickname for my straightforward and refreshing speech).</b>
Typically, politicians change 180 degrees when the microphone comes on. However, I behave the same whether the microphone is on or off. I have lived my life without a dichotomy between my public image and private self. I have changed my method, not my image.
<b>—This is your third presidential run; what has changed?</b>
I started from the bottom without any help from my parents, attended school, became a prosecutor, and have served in public office for 43 years. Is there any scandal involving women or bribery? I have carefully managed myself over the past 43 years. During my time as governor of Gyeongnam and mayor of Daegu, I ate lunch at the company cafeteria and had dinner with my wife at home.
I have never reached out to National Assembly members during elections. That approach did not work in presidential elections. This time, I focused on securing the party's support in the three months following the impeachment proposition. I met with many members of the National Assembly and party leaders. Together, I have about 100 supporters.
<b>—What are your thoughts on the 3-hour debate with candidate Han Dong-hoon on the 25th?</b>
(With the current approach,) it's going to be difficult. In a formal presidential election, there is time to heal the wounds from the primary after becoming a candidate, but this time there will only be a month left after the primary. There will be no time to heal the wounds. We must debate in a way that does not create resentments during the primary. I may be patient this time, but when I face Lee Jae-myung in the main election, the ratings will be excellent.