Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok said on the 14th, "Does (former People Power Party emergency committee chairperson Kwon Young-se) have the right to dare to talk about 'inborn character' regarding Mayor Hong Joon-pyo?"
The candidate posted a social media (SNS) photo on Facebook that criticized former Chairman Kwon for targeting former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, stating, "What ridiculous thing is it that they talk about character after they made a love call and weren't responded to?"
He explained, "It's no different from when I criticized the People Power Party and their anti-civilization and ignorance, and they collectively lynched me, calling me rude."
He continued, "The group that staged a coup to replace the candidate at 3 a.m. just because the person they had chosen as their candidate has no chance of winning now claims that this person is the only card that can win. They are telling blatant lies today that are different from yesterday, so please be reasonable in this public deception."
He also said, "The fact that we cannot win with candidate Kim Moon-soo is no different then or now. Is the person who supported such a candidate even qualified to dare to talk about 'inborn character' regarding Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, the victim of a fraudulent primary? That is truly lacking in character. There is a lack of character before the public."
In response, former Chairperson Kwon posted a captured photo of Lee's critical post on his Facebook and wrote briefly, "I hope you work hard for the entire conservative camp."
Earlier, former Mayor Hong, who declared his retirement from politics after leaving the People Power Party, stated the day before in a communication channel with supporters named "Dream of Youth," "I cannot sever ties with a party that has been impeached twice," adding, "They are urging me to come back in desperation, but I have lost my interest and don't even want to go near it."
Then, former Chairperson Kwon posted an article regarding former Mayor Hong, who has declared the severance from the People Power Party, on his Facebook that said, "A person who has made two challenges for the presidency, won two gubernatorial elections, and been elected to the National Assembly multiple times should not be doing this now. It seems that inborn character cannot be changed."