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Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu, poses for a commemorative photo after signing a candidate pledge during the People Power Party's first primary debate media day for the 21st presidential election, held at the party’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. / Provided by the People Power Party

Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu and a onetime presidential hopeful, is facing fierce backlash from within the conservative camp for what many in the People Power Party (PPP) call a betrayal of his pledge to support the party’s final nominee.

Hong had signed a pledge during the PPP’s presidential primary promising to “do everything possible for a PPP victory.” But after failing to win the nomination, he has openly lashed out at the party, calling it “a hopeless group” and saying, “I’ve grown so disgusted I don’t even want to be near it.”

Kwon Young-se, former head of the PPP’s emergency committee, publicly rebuked Hong, remarking, “Maybe a person’s nature really can’t be helped.” Other party officials have also condemned him for abandoning his promise.

Tensions escalated further when some of Hong’s supporters declared they would endorse Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, arguing that the PPP no longer upholds true conservative values. Though later denied, a media report claimed Lee’s camp had even offered Hong the position of prime minister if he backed their campaign.

Lee appeared to seize on the rift, telling voters in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, “I understand why Hong might have wanted to join the Democratic Party instead. It must have been deeply disheartening.” He continued, “I wonder what drove him to retire from politics and quit the PPP altogether. Perhaps he was trying to say the party has strayed too far from the ideals of a proper conservative party.” Lee then extended a friendly invitation, saying, “Let’s share a drink of makgeolli when you return from the U.S.”

Hong, meanwhile, has continued to criticize the PPP on his communication platform "Youth’s Dream." “If I had followed former President Roh Moo-hyun’s advice 30 years ago and joined the ‘Little Democratic Party,’ maybe I wouldn’t have suffered so long in a party that ignores loyalty, duty, and common sense,” he wrote.

He claimed that he never received help from the party during his five terms as a lawmaker and insisted, “After Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, I was the one who revived this party. It owes me nothing.”

Calling the PPP’s primary a “fraud,” Hong revisited his past defeat to former President Yoon Suk Yeol in a previous race, saying, “I tried to leave the party then, but stayed for one last challenge. After witnessing this latest scam, I finally left the party where I had devoted my youth. I have retired from the People Power Party.”

Criticism also extends to former primary candidates Han Dong-hoon and Yang Hyang-ja, who have been accused of not actively supporting nominee Kim Moon-soo.

A senior PPP official expressed growing frustration: “How can someone who pledged to accept the results and support the party's nominee now behave as if they want Lee Jae-myung to win? At a time when conservative votes need unity, this is a clear act of betrayal. He should step down immediately.”