By Choi Ha-young
Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hong Joon-pyo expressed support for the party's decision to expel former President Park Geun-hye and two of her key loyalists after returning from a U.S. trip, Saturday.
On Saturday, Hong denounced Rep. Suh Chung-won, the de-facto leader of the pro-Park faction, for raising allegations against him, right after his arrival at Incheon International Airport. "How can an eight-term lawmaker be so childish? Just let him do whatever he wants," he told reporters.
Rep. Suh earlier claimed that Hong asked a favor of him when he was being investigated over allegations of a bribery. In September last year, Hong was found guilty of taking money from the late businessman Sung Wan-jong. An appeals court acquitted him in February this year, but Hong is awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court after the prosecution filed an appeal against the ruling.
Hong has been forced into a corner by Rep. Lee Yong-ju of the People's Party. Last week, Lee said the People's Party has solid evidence that Hong pleaded with Suh to get Yoon Seung-mo, who is accused of delivering the bribe from Sung. Hong purportedly believed that Yoon was an aide to Suh, but the latter claimed he was an associate of Sung and closer to Hong.
Hong also lashed out at Lee. "If he continues such fabrications, he will be punished by heaven," Hong added Sunday.
So far, Hong has claimed that he doesn't know Sung at all. If the pro-Park lawmaker or Rep. Lee reveals tangible evidence or give testimony in the Supreme Court to prove Hong's guilt, the party chief is destined to see his political career ended.
In response to Hong's verbal attack, Suh said that Hong is cherry picking evidence. "I wonder why Hong remains tight-lipped about Yoon, who worked as his press secretary in 2010 and 2011," Suh said Sunday.
The two politicians are both engaged in brinkmanship. Hong is under severe pressure to defeat the pro-Park members, staking his political life. A group of conservative lawmakers of the Bareun Party are calling for eradication of the pro-Park faction in the LKP, as a condition of their return to the party.
If Hong succeeds in uniting the conservatives, he could consolidate his position in the largest opposition party as their savior. On the other hand, Suh is struggling to "regain" the honor of the ex-president and her followers.
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| Hong Joon-pyo |
On Saturday, Hong denounced Rep. Suh Chung-won, the de-facto leader of the pro-Park faction, for raising allegations against him, right after his arrival at Incheon International Airport. "How can an eight-term lawmaker be so childish? Just let him do whatever he wants," he told reporters.
Rep. Suh earlier claimed that Hong asked a favor of him when he was being investigated over allegations of a bribery. In September last year, Hong was found guilty of taking money from the late businessman Sung Wan-jong. An appeals court acquitted him in February this year, but Hong is awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Court after the prosecution filed an appeal against the ruling.
Hong has been forced into a corner by Rep. Lee Yong-ju of the People's Party. Last week, Lee said the People's Party has solid evidence that Hong pleaded with Suh to get Yoon Seung-mo, who is accused of delivering the bribe from Sung. Hong purportedly believed that Yoon was an aide to Suh, but the latter claimed he was an associate of Sung and closer to Hong.
Hong also lashed out at Lee. "If he continues such fabrications, he will be punished by heaven," Hong added Sunday.
So far, Hong has claimed that he doesn't know Sung at all. If the pro-Park lawmaker or Rep. Lee reveals tangible evidence or give testimony in the Supreme Court to prove Hong's guilt, the party chief is destined to see his political career ended.
In response to Hong's verbal attack, Suh said that Hong is cherry picking evidence. "I wonder why Hong remains tight-lipped about Yoon, who worked as his press secretary in 2010 and 2011," Suh said Sunday.
The two politicians are both engaged in brinkmanship. Hong is under severe pressure to defeat the pro-Park members, staking his political life. A group of conservative lawmakers of the Bareun Party are calling for eradication of the pro-Park faction in the LKP, as a condition of their return to the party.
If Hong succeeds in uniting the conservatives, he could consolidate his position in the largest opposition party as their savior. On the other hand, Suh is struggling to "regain" the honor of the ex-president and her followers.
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