By Choi Ha-young
Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hong Joon-pyo lashed out at loyalists of former President Park Geun-hye for resisting his reform drive, Monday, saying they were acting like "cowards."
Hong's criticism came after two pro-Park lawmakers ― Choi Kyung-hwan and Suh Chung-won ― snubbed the party's request to leave the party "voluntarily," harshly criticizing Hong for "dividing" the LKP.
Following a war of words with pro-Park lawmakers over the weekend, Hong reopened his verbal attack on the faction before boarding an airplane for Washington, D.C., where he will meet with U.S. officials and politicians to discuss issues related to North Korea.
"They are acting cowardly to avoid responsibility (for Park's collapse)," Hong told reporters in a press conference at Incheon International Airport.
"Those who tasted power for six years in Park's glory should have protected her when she was removed from power. They concealed themselves when she was in hardship and are now re-emerging stealthily to defend themselves," Hong said.
The LKP reform panel has urged the party leadership to deprive Park of her party membership. On Friday, the party's ethics committee asked Park and two key loyalists to leave the party.
Hong is expected to convene a general meeting Saturday to expel Park and her followers after his U.S. trip, during which he will seek the reintroduction of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to South Korea.
If they refuse to leave the LKP no later than Sunday, Park is supposed to lose her membership if the party's Supreme Council makes a decision, while the two lawmakers' expulsion requires two-thirds support in the general meeting.
The LKP chief has been determined to root out Park's legacy in unifying conservatives here. Some lawmakers of the breakaway Bareun Party have called for the expulsion of Park and her loyalists as a condition of their return to the LKP.
Hong's bid has stirred up vehement resistance from the pro-Park faction. Suh, an eight-term lawmaker and its de facto leader, took issue with Hong's weakest point ― his corruption case. "Hong is the one who awaits a Supreme Court ruling over a bribery conviction," Suh said in a press conference Sunday.
Hong was found guilty of taking money from the late businessman Sung Wan-jong and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The appeals court overturned the ruling in April, which paved the way for a presidential candidacy in May.
Demanding Hong's resignation from the LKP's top post, Suh stated that Hong asked a favor of him when he was under investigation. "If you are curious about Hong's secret request to me, ask Hong. If he hides the truth I'll show evidence," Suh told reporters.
Hong dismissed the claim. "I was a political scapegoat of so-called Sung Wan-jong list which was fabricated by the Park administration in order to rescue her loyalists," Hong said on social media, Sunday. "If you have any recording files of our phone calls, don't hesitate to make them public."
Further, he disclosed Suh's illicit requests not to lose the party membership. "In early September, Suh tried to cajole me during a dinner and his associates visited me later to blackmail me," he said.
The battle between Hong and Suh centers on a person surnamed Yoon, who allegedly delivered the money from Sung to Hong. Yoon is known as an associate of Suh.
On Monday, prosecutor-turned-lawmaker Rep. Lee Yong-ju of the People's Party fanned speculation. "Actually, the People's Party has solid evidence that Hong pleaded with Suh to reverse Yoon's testimony during the prosecution investigation," Rep. Lee said. "The prosecution should question Suh to figure out if he really has any such recording."
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| Hong Joon-pyo |
Hong's criticism came after two pro-Park lawmakers ― Choi Kyung-hwan and Suh Chung-won ― snubbed the party's request to leave the party "voluntarily," harshly criticizing Hong for "dividing" the LKP.
Following a war of words with pro-Park lawmakers over the weekend, Hong reopened his verbal attack on the faction before boarding an airplane for Washington, D.C., where he will meet with U.S. officials and politicians to discuss issues related to North Korea.
"They are acting cowardly to avoid responsibility (for Park's collapse)," Hong told reporters in a press conference at Incheon International Airport.
"Those who tasted power for six years in Park's glory should have protected her when she was removed from power. They concealed themselves when she was in hardship and are now re-emerging stealthily to defend themselves," Hong said.
The LKP reform panel has urged the party leadership to deprive Park of her party membership. On Friday, the party's ethics committee asked Park and two key loyalists to leave the party.
Hong is expected to convene a general meeting Saturday to expel Park and her followers after his U.S. trip, during which he will seek the reintroduction of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to South Korea.
If they refuse to leave the LKP no later than Sunday, Park is supposed to lose her membership if the party's Supreme Council makes a decision, while the two lawmakers' expulsion requires two-thirds support in the general meeting.
The LKP chief has been determined to root out Park's legacy in unifying conservatives here. Some lawmakers of the breakaway Bareun Party have called for the expulsion of Park and her loyalists as a condition of their return to the LKP.
Hong's bid has stirred up vehement resistance from the pro-Park faction. Suh, an eight-term lawmaker and its de facto leader, took issue with Hong's weakest point ― his corruption case. "Hong is the one who awaits a Supreme Court ruling over a bribery conviction," Suh said in a press conference Sunday.
Hong was found guilty of taking money from the late businessman Sung Wan-jong and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The appeals court overturned the ruling in April, which paved the way for a presidential candidacy in May.
Demanding Hong's resignation from the LKP's top post, Suh stated that Hong asked a favor of him when he was under investigation. "If you are curious about Hong's secret request to me, ask Hong. If he hides the truth I'll show evidence," Suh told reporters.
Hong dismissed the claim. "I was a political scapegoat of so-called Sung Wan-jong list which was fabricated by the Park administration in order to rescue her loyalists," Hong said on social media, Sunday. "If you have any recording files of our phone calls, don't hesitate to make them public."
Further, he disclosed Suh's illicit requests not to lose the party membership. "In early September, Suh tried to cajole me during a dinner and his associates visited me later to blackmail me," he said.
The battle between Hong and Suh centers on a person surnamed Yoon, who allegedly delivered the money from Sung to Hong. Yoon is known as an associate of Suh.
On Monday, prosecutor-turned-lawmaker Rep. Lee Yong-ju of the People's Party fanned speculation. "Actually, the People's Party has solid evidence that Hong pleaded with Suh to reverse Yoon's testimony during the prosecution investigation," Rep. Lee said. "The prosecution should question Suh to figure out if he really has any such recording."
