Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, said on the 12th to former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who declared his retirement from politics, "You were a politician of romance. I hope you have a good trip in the United States. When you return, let's share a glass of makgeolli."

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a speech at the launching ceremony held at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 12th, the first day of the official campaign. /Courtesy of News1
Hong Joon-pyo, the candidate who was eliminated from the People Power Party's third primary election for the 21st presidential candidate, is listening to the comments of the qualifiers at the People Power Party's central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 29th. /Courtesy of News1

The candidate posted on Facebook that day and noted, "Senior Hong Joon-pyo is from the opposing camp, but he wasn't someone I disliked."

He said of former Mayor Hong, "As a true politician who never forgot the spirit of humor, wit, and integration, you received much love from many people," adding, "Honestly, in this election, a seasoned politician like Senior Hong Joon-pyo was the most daunting opponent for me."

He continued, "However, if I were to compete with Senior Hong, I hoped that Korean politics could break free from excessive judicialization and engage in honest and fair competition."

The candidate expressed, "I was truly saddened that Senior Hong, who left a significant legacy in Korean political history and dedicated his life to the conservative party, ultimately could not fulfill his aspirations and declared his retirement from politics," adding, "I particularly resonate with his statement about creating a left-right unified government to overcome the crisis and move forward."

He added, "In this crisis, can ideology or camps be more important than national interests or people's happiness?" and said, "Regardless of which party you supported or who you supported, I hope we can all join forces for the future of the Republic of Korea beyond the small differences in our thoughts."

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